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THE -AMERICAN 


BOOK  OF  THE  DOG. 


THE    ORIGIN,    DEVELOPMENT,    SPECIAL 

CHARACTERISTICS,    UTILITY,    BREEDING,    TRAINING, 

POINTS    OF   JUDGING,    DISEASES,  AND    KENNEL 

MANAGEMENT  OF  ALL   BREEDS   OF    DOGS. 


HON.  JOHN  S.  WISE,  BERNARD  WATERS,  MAX  WENZEL,  B.  F.  SEITNER,  HARRY  MALCOLM,  CHARLES 
K.  WESTBROOK,  COL.  ROGER  D.  WILLIAMS,  DR.  Q.  VAN  HUMMELL,  DR.  M.  G.  ELLZEY,  LAW- 
RENCE TIMPSON,  WILLIAM  LOEFFLER,  J.  L.  WINCHELL,  WM.  WADE,  H.  F.  SCHELLHASS, 
P.  T.  MADISON,  WM.  A.  BRUETTE,  F.  H.  F.  MERCER,  A.  CLINTON  WILMERDING, 
J.  F.  KIRK,  J.  OTIS  FELLOWS,  GEO.  W.  KIERSTEAD,  AUGUST  BELMONT,  JR.,~VV.  H. 
RUSSELL,  DR.  J   S.  NIVEN,  FRANK  F.  DOLE,  E.  F.  BURNS,  P.  H.  COOMBS, 
J.  H.  NAYLOR,  DR.  H.  T.  FOOTE,  Miss  A.  H.  WHITNEY,  HENRY  JARRETT, 
J.  E.  DOUGHERTY,  PROF.  J.  H.  H.  MAENNER,  F.  F..  LA.MB,  L.  F.  WHIT- 
MAN, JOHN  E.  THAYER,  MAJ.  T.  J.  WOODCOCK,  W.  R.  FURNESS, 
DR.  G.  IRWIN  ROYCE,  G.  W.  FISHER,  MRS.  ELROY  FOOTE, 
Miss  MARION  E.  BANNISTER,  E.  R.  SPALDING,  AND 
DR.  J.   FRANK:  PERRY 


EDITED  BY  G.  O.  SHIELDS  ("COQUINA"), 

AUTHOR  OF   "CRUISINGS  IN  THE  CASCADES,"    "RUSTLINGS  IN  THE  ROCKIES,"     "HUNTING  IN  THE 

GREAT  WEST,"     "THE    BATTLE    OF   THE    BIG    HOLE,"     "THE    BIG    GAME    OF 

NORTH  AMERICA,"    "CAMPING  AND  CAMP  OUTFITS,"  ETC. 


CHICAGO  AND  NEW  YORK: 
RAND,  MCNALLY  &  COMPANY,  PUBLISHERS. 

1891. 


a, 


COPYRIGHT,  1891,  BY  G.  O.  SHIELDS. 
All  rights  reserved. 


TlIE  MORE  I  SEE  OF  MEN, 

THE  BETTER  I  LIKE  DOGS." 

— Anonymous. 


(3) 

220G44 


PREFACE. 


To  the  ladies  and  gentlemen  who  have  responded  so 
generously  to  my  requests  for  contributions  to  this  book, 
I  am  profoundly  grateful.  To  their  efforts  alone  is  due  the 
production  of  this  the  grandest  work  on  the  dog  ever  pub- 
lished, in  this  or  any  other  country.  Without  the  co-opera- 
tion of  such  able  and  enthusiastic  dog-fanciers,  such  a  book 
would  have  been  impossible. 

I  arn  also  indebted  to  these  and  to  other  kind  friends  for 
the  use  of  drawings  and  photographs,  many  of  which  were 
made  especially  for  this  purpose,  and  from  which  many  of 
the  illustrations  have  been  produced.  I  am  grateful  to 
Dr.  Nt  Howe,  editor  of  the  American  Field,  for  the  use  of 
several  electrotypes,  and  to  many  others  who  have  contrib- 
uted to  the  success  of  the  work  in  various  ways. 

THE  EDITOR. 


(5) 


CONTENTS. 

PAGE 

INTRODUCTION.        ....  Hon.  John  8,  Wise,        13 

THE  ENGLISH  SETTER.          .  Bernard  Waters,        17 

Kennel  Editor  The  American  Field,  and  author 
of  "Modern  Training,  Handling,  and  Ken- 
nel Management." 

THE  IRISH  SETTER. Max  Wenzel,        45 

Secretary  The  Irish  Setter  Club  of  America,  and 

B.  F.  Seitner, 
Vice-President  The  Pointer  Club  of  America. 

THE  AMERICAN  GORDON  SETTER Harry  Malcolm,        75 

President  The  American  Gordon  Setter  Club. 

THE  POINTER Charles  K.  Westbrook,  A.M.        97 

THE  GREYHOUND.      .  Col.  Roger  D.  Williams,      145 

President  The    Iroquois  Hunting  and  Riding 

Club. 

THE  DEERHOUND.         .  Dr.  Q.  Van  Hummell,      171 

THE  FOXHOUND.         .         .         .         _         .         _        Dr.  M.   G.  Ellzey,  189 

Associate  Editor  The  National  Economist. 

THE  BASSET  HOUND.        _____         Lawrence  Timpson.  209 

THE  DACHSHUND.        ______          William  Loeffler.  217 

THE  BLOODHOUND.          _  J.  L.  Winchell.  241 

THE  RUSSIAN  WOLFHOUND _     William  Wade.  261 

THE  BEAGLE  HOUND.    ______        H.  F.  Sctiellhass,  269 

President  The  American-English  Beagle  Club. 

THE  IRISH  WATER  SPANIEL.          _  P.  T.  Madison,      291 

Secretary  The  Indiana  Kennel  Club. 
THE  ENGLISH  WATER  SPANIEL.        _        _        _       William  A.  Bruette.      301 

THE  CLUMBER  SPANIEL.        _        _        _        _        _        F.H.F.  Mercer,  305 

Kennel  Editor  Sports  Afield. 

THE  SUSSEX  SPANIEL.         _        _         _        _        A.  Clinton  Wilmerding.  323 

THE  FIELD  SPANIEL J.  F.  Kirk.  327 

THE  COCKER  SPANIEL.        _  _   J.  Otis  Fellows.  337 

(7) 


8  CONTENTS. 

PAGE. 

THE  CHESAPEAKE  BAY  DOG.      .        .        _        _      George  W.  Kierstead.  357 

THE  Fox  TERRIER.        .    •     .'        .        _        .        August  Belmont,  Jr.,  373 

President  The  American  Kennel  Club,  and  The 

American  Fox  Terrier  Club. 

THE  BEDLINGTON  TERRIER.        _        .        .        _        .     W.  H.  Russell.  395 

THE  IRISH  TERRIER.         .        _':'•.        _         .         .     Dr.  J.  8.  Niven.  413 

THE  BULL  TERRIER.        ...        .        _        .       Frank  F.  Dole.  425 

THE  WHITE  ENGLISH  TERRIER.        .                                    E.  F.  Burns.  433 

THE  YORKSHIRE  TERRIER.      .        .     •   .        ,"                P.  H.  Coombs.  437 

THE  AIREDALE  TERRIER.     .        _      .  .        .        -        F.  H.  F.  Mercer.  457 

THE  SCOTTISH  TERRIER.        .        .        .        .        .        John  H.  Naylor.  465 

THE  DANDIE  DINMONT  TERRIER.         _        .        .          John  H.  Naylor.  471 

THE  SKYE  TERRIER.          _____        Lawrence  Timpson.  479 

THE  BLACK  AND  TAN  TERRIER.    _        .        .        _        Dr.  H.  T.  Foote.  489 

THE  MALTESE  TERRIER.         -        -        .        .        Miss  A.  H.  Whitney.  497 

THE  COLLIE.      _        _        _        .      Henry  Jarrett  and  J.  E.  Dougherty.  505 

THE  OLD  ENGLISH  SHEEP  DOG.        .        .      ,  -        -       William  Wade.  515 

THE  GREAT  DANE  (German  Dogge).          .  •      Prof.  J.  H.  H.  Maenner.  529 

THE  ST.  BERNARD.      _        _        .        .       i"        .        .        F.  E.  Lamb.  549 

THE  MASTIFF.  _       _         _        _"_        _.      '..'_         William  Wade.  571 

THE  NEWFOUNDLAND.          _        _        .  ,  ,• ,  _        _,          L.  F.  Whitman.  589 

THE  BULLDOG.      _        _ John  E.  Thayer.  599 

THE  DALMATIAN  COACH  DOG.         .        .        .        Maj.  T.  J.  Woodcock.  607 

THE  POODLE .        W.  H.  Furness.  615 

THE  ITALIAN  GREYHOUND.         .     •  _        .        _     Dr.  G.  Irwin  Royce.  629 

THE  PUG.        _        .      * G.  W.  Fisher.  639 

THE  MEXICAN  HAIRLESS  DOG.              _        _        _        Mrs.  Elroy  Foote.  647 

THE  TOY  SPANIELS.        _    '    ..        _        _        Miss  Marion  E.  Bannister,  655 

Secretary  The  American  Pet  Dog  Club. 

THE  SCHIPPERKE.        _        .        _        _        .                    E.  R.  Spalding.  665 

DISEASES  OF  THE  DOG,  AND  THEIR  REMEDIES.       .     Dr.  J.Frank  Perry,  671 

("Ashmont")  Author  of  "Dogs,  their  Manage- 
ment and  Treatment  in  Diseases." 

SPANIEL  TRAINING.                                                           F.  H.  F.  Mercer.  697 


FULL  PAGE  ILLUSTRATIONS. 


PAGE. 

Chesapeake  Bay  Dog,  Barnum,  Retrieving:  a,  Wounded  Goose,    .    Frontispiece. 
Flushed,        ......  ...       17 

English  Setter,  Toledo  Blade,    ....  21 

English  Setter,  Cincinnatus,  .         ...      21 

English  Setter,  Gloster,      _         _         .  34 

English  Setter,  Rowdy  Rod,  ....  .      40 

Irish  Setter,  Ruby  Glenmore,     ....  46 

Irish  Setter,  Sarsfleld,     ___.-_....      49 

Gordon  Setters,  Malcolm  and  Gypsey,         _  76 

Pointers,  Duke  of  Vernon  and  Miss  Freedom,         .  100 

Smooth-Coated  German  Pointer,  Walden,  109 

Rough-Coated  German  Pointer,  Ratiz,    _         .         .  .         .         .111 

Pointer,  Lady  Dufferin,      .  116 

Pointer,  Robert  le  Diable,      .  ...     122 

Dead  Bird,        .'...-•-:        .  126 

Pointer  Puppies,  ...._...--     134 

Deerhounds,  Phyllis,  Robin  Adair,  Lady  Dare,  and  Fergus,  .  .  180 
Irish  Water  Spaniel,  King  Slash  ___..---  294 
Millie  and  Jock,  .__...  342 

Bedlington  Terrier,  Christmas  Carol, -         .398 

Bulldog,  Bellisima, -         601 

Bulldog  Puppies,  .  .604 


(9) 


SMALLER  ILLUSTRATIONS. 


PAGE. 

English  Setter,  Daisy  Foreman,      ._._._._  32 

English  Setter,  Roderigo,                             ......  38 

English  Setter,  Plantagenet,  42 

Irish  Setter,  Tim,      .  52 

Irish  Setter,  Elcho,        ....                           ....  66 

Irish  Setter,  Elcho,  Junior,         .  68 

Gordon  Setter,  Bob,       .                                                      ....  81 

Gordon  Setter,  Little  Boy,                                                                         _  86 

Gordon  Setter,  Pilot,      _  91 

Pointer,  Croxteth,      _  129 
Pointer,  Patti  M.,                                                                                             .137 

Greyhound,  Master  Rich,            _         _         .  149 

Greyhound,  Balkis,        _                                                                                 _  160 

Foxhound,  Joe  Forester,    _________  190 

Basset  Hound,  Nemours,        .........  211 

Dachshund,  Waldemann  II., _  218 

English  Bloodhound,  Bono,  ....  .242 

English  Bloodhounds,  Rosemary  and  Ripple,      .  249 

English  Bloodhound  Puppies,         _                                                               _  253 

English  Bloodhound,  Barnaby,           .                                                      .  256 

Russian  Wolfhound,  Czar, .  262 

Russian  Wolfhound,  Elsie,         ....  265 

Beagle  Hound,  Trailer,           _                  _  271 

Irish  Water  Spaniel,  Dennis  O'Donoghuc,  292 
Irish  Water  Spaniel  Puppies,                                                        .        .         .297 

Clumber  Spaniel,  Johnny,          _                                                      -  307 

Clumber  Spaniel,  Quester,      ......                           -  310 

Field  Spaniel,  Black  Prince,       .....  329 

Cocker  Spaniel,  Doc, 338 

Cocker  Spaniel,  Brant,       ..........  341 

Cocker  Spaniel,  Neptune, 346 

Cocker  Spaniel,  Mike, 349 

Cocker  Spaniel,  Jersey,           .....--.-  353 

Chesapeake  Bay  Dog,  Polly, 359 

Fox  Terrier,  Lucifer,     .        .         „        .         .         .        .         .         .         .375 

Fox  Terrier  Puppies, 377 

Bedlington  Terrier,  Syrup  H. , .404 

Bedlington  Terrier  Puppies, -  408 

(ID 


12  SMALLER  ILLUSTRATIONS. 

PAGE. 

Irish  Terrier,  Nora,       .        .        .        .        -.        .....  .415 

Irish  Terrier,  Mars,  .      ....        .        .     -    .        .        .        .        .  420 

Bull  Terrier,  Starlight,           _        -    ,    -        ...        .        .  .427 

Yorkshire  Terrier,  Lancashire  Ben,    .                 .      ^  .        .        _        _  438 
Yorkshire  Terrier,  Bradford  Harry,        .        .        y;      ....    447 

White  English  Terrier,  White  Prince,        .        .        ...         _  434 

Airedale  Terrier,  Weaver,       _        _        .         .         .        _        .        .  _    458 

Scottish  Terrier,  Meadowthorpe  Donald,             .        .        .        _     . . .  '      466 

Skye  Terrier,  Lovat,      .        _        .         .        .         _        .        ...  .481 

Black  and  Tan  Terrier  Puppies,        _        .        .         .        .        .'       .  490 

Black  and  Tan  Terrier,  Meersbrook  Maiden,           -       V       .        .  .    493 

Maltese  Terriers,  Brendoline,  etc.,     .        _        .        .        .        .  '     .  /     499 

Collie,  Scotilla,      .        .        ...        ....'.  .    507 

Collie,  Boss,       ___.._.___.  511 

Old  English  Sheep  Dog,  Sir  Cavendish,          .        ....  .517 

Great  Dane,  Minca  Mia,              .        .'.-..        _        .        .  531 

Great  Dane,  Don  Caesar,  '    '  .        ......        .        _        v       .  .     535 

Great  Dane,  Major,            .        .    s    ,        ,        .        .        .        -        .  540 

Great  Dane,  Juno,          _        .        ....        .        .         .  .     544 

St.  Bernard,  Sir  Bedivere,          .        .        .        .        .        .   '     .        .  551 

St.  Bernard,  Prince  Regent,    .       .        -        -        -        -        ...  .557 

St.  Bernard,  Otho,     .        .         .        ^        ......  563 

St.  Bernard  Puppies,      _        . 568 

Mastiff,  Beaufort,       .'.-....        .        .        .        .  573 

Mastiff,  Edwy,       .         ...        ...         .        .        .         .  .579 

Mastiff  Puppies,        _                                   585 

Dalmatian  Coach  Dog,  . 609 

Poodle,  Pierrot,          .        .        .       u «£  617 

Diagram  for  Clipping  Poodle,        ...        .         .        -        .  -     620 

Pug,  Dude,       .         _         .        .        -        .        .        .        ....  641 

Mexican  Hairless,  Me  Too,     .        .    '.   .        ....        .        -  .649 

King  Charles  Spaniel,.  Romeo,    .        .        .        .     '  .        .        .        .  657 

Blenheim  Spaniel,  King  Vic1  tor,    .        .    .    .        .'      .        -   v    -  -     66° 

Schipperkes,  Midnight  and  Darkness,        J.   ...     ,.        .   .    ;.        .  667 


INTRODUCTION. 

BY  THE  HONORABLE  JOHN  S.  WISE. 


jj]  T  gives  me  great  pleasure,  at  the  request  of  the  editor,  to 
write  an  introduction  to  THE  AMERICAN  BOOK  OF  THE 
/il  DOG.  Mr.  Shields  asked  me,  some  months  ago,  to  write 
an  article  on  the  Pointer  for  this  work,  and  I  deeply 
regretted  that  I  was  too  much  engaged  at  the  time  to 
comply  with  his  request,  for  I  felt  then,  as  I  do  now,  a 
deep  interest  in  the  success  of  his  enterprise.  However, 
my  inability  to  join  his  staff  did  not  prevent  him  from 
having  that  noble  breed  ably  treated,  for  the  gentleman 
whom  he  secured  to  write  of  it  has  prepared  a  most  able, 
exhaustive,  and  instructive  paper,  as  have  nearly  all  the 
other  contributors  on  the  various  breeds  of  dogs. 

Mr.  Shields  is  too  well  known  to  the  readers  of  sports- 
men's  literature  to  require  any  introduction,  and  in  select- 
ing contributors  to  this  work  he  has  displayed  rare  good 
judgment.  His  list  of  writers  embraces  the  names  of  a 
great  many  gentlemen  who  are  recognized  as  leading 
authorities  on  the  subjects  of  which  they  write.  While 
these  articles  may,  in  some  cases,  be  more  or  less  tinged  by  the 
peculiar  views  of  their  authors,  the  book,  thus  drawn  from 
many  different  minds,  is  not  only  very  eclectic  in  character, 
but,  in  my  judgment,  much  more  correct  and  valuable,  as  a 
whole,  than  it  could  be  were  it  the  production  of  an  indi- 
vidual. 

I  have  been  particularly  glad  to  notice  that  many  of  the 
writers  have  framed  their  articles  on  these  lines,  and  have 
quoted  largely  from  the  writings  of  others,  not  contenting 
themselves  with  merely  expressing  their  individual  views. 

The  book  is  exceedingly  interesting.  It  is  free,  too,  from 
the  sameness  of  expression  and  treatment  so  often  found  in 

(13) 


14  INTRODUCTION. 

books  of  this  character  written  by  one  man.  It  is,  more- 
over, a  very  instructive  book,  and  of  practical  value,  in 
many  features,  to  the  owners  and  breeders  of  dogs. 

This  is  an  American  book,  describing  the  American 
standard  of  dogs,  the  appearance  of  American  dogs,  and  the 
American  diseases  of  dogs,  as  well  as  the  American  reme- 
dies which  will  cure  those  diseases.  By  this  I  do  not 
mean  to  belittle  foreign  animals  or  foreign  literature  on 
these  subjects.  On  the  contrary,  the  foreign  literature,  up 
to  the  present  time,  is  far  superior  to  ours,  and  all  our  dogs 
are  descended  from  foreign  importations.  The  idea  I  in- 
tend to  convey  by  the  above  remark  is  that  certain  con- 
ditions and  peculiarities  of  our  climate  vary  not  only  the 
appearance  of  our  dogs  and  the  standards  applicable  to 
them,  from  the  appearance  and  standards  of  other  coun- 
tries, but  the  diseases  to  which  they  are  subject  and  the 
treatment  which  should  be  applied  to  them.  All  these 
things  are  considered  and  dealt  with  in  Mr.  Shields'  book 
in  a  way  not,  in  the  nature  of  the  case,  to  be  found  in  for- 
eign authorities,  however  excellent,  and  that  is  why  I  com- 
mend this  as  an  American  work. 

Another  valuable  feature  of  this  book  is  the  illustra- 
tions. Many  of  these  are  artistic  and  beautiful  in  a  high 
degree.  The  portraits  of  several  dogs  of  world- wide  repu- 
tation are  shown,  and  those  of  many  other  typical  speci- 
mens, less  widely  known,  add  to  the  interest  and  attractive- 
ness of  the  work.  Nearly  every  breed  is  illustrated,  and  of 
some  breeds  several  good  specimens  are  pictured. 

A  statement  of  the  value  of  American  dogs  would  startle 
a  stranger  to  the  subject.  It  is  no  exaggeration  to  say 
that  the  aggregate  salable  value  of  sporting  and  pet  dogs 
in  this  country  amounts  to  several  million  dollars.  Our 
bench  shows  and  field  trials  are  in  every  way  equal,  if  not 
superior,  to  those  of  Europe.  Canine  interests  in  this  coun- 
try have  for  years  past  engaged  the  careful  attention  of 
many  of  the  most  successful  business  men  in  this  country. 
Excellent  talent  is  employed  in  the  larger  American  cities 
for  the  exclusive  purpose  of  writing  upon  canine  subjects; 


INTRODUCTION.  15 

and  their  journals  are  extensively  and  profitably  circu- 
lated. 

Knowing  all  this,  I  am  sure  that  a  great  demand  will 
be  found  for  so  excellent  and  comprehensive  a  book  as 
this.  The  topics  treated  in  this  work,  to  wit :  The  origin 
of  breeds;  their  early  history;  development  up  to  the  pres- 
ent standard;  special  characteristics;  utility,  excellences 
and  deficiencies;  directions  for  training,  for  breeding,  and 
for  kennel  management;  notes  on  diseases,  with  directions 
and  prescriptions  for  treatment  of  same;  preparation  for 
bench  show  or  field  trial;  the  future  of  the  breeds — all 
these  are  well  selected  and  well  treated. 

The  special  article  on  diseases  and  their  treatment,  by 
one  of  the  most  eminent  living  authorities,  is  of  itself  a  val- 
uable addition  to  the  library  of  the  sportsman. 

I  sincerely  hope  the  book  will  meet  with  the  cordial 
reception  it  deserves. 

NEW  YORK,  June  26,  1890. 


FLUSHED. 


THE  AMERICAN  BOOK  OF  THE  DOG. 


THE  ENGLISH  SETTER. 


BY  BERNARD  WATERS, 

Kennel  Editor  of  the  American  Field,  and  Author  of  "  Modern  Training, 
Handling,  and  Kennel  Management/1 


the  origin  of  the  English  Setter,  nothing 
is  known  to  a  certainty;  but,  in  this  particular,  the 
tfe  u\  absence  of  knowledge  does  not  differ  from  that  con- 

\P  cerning  all  other  old  breeds  of  dogs.  That  the  Eng- 
lish Setter  is  a  very  old  breed  is  beyond  question,  as  will  be 
shown  more  fully  hereinafter,  by  reference  to  some  ancient 
literature  on  the  subject;  but  that  the  ipse  dixit  of  one  or 
two  ancient  writers  should  be  given  so  much  credence  is 
unaccountable.  However,  the  obscurity,  which  envelops 
the  past,  quite  as  effectually  prevents  disproving  any  errors 
in  the  statements  of  the  old  writers  as  it  does  the  proving 
of  their  statements  to  be  correct.  This  is  more  particularly 
noticeable  as,  in  the  present  day,  captious  critics  are  ever 
ready  to  differ  from  those  who  are  more  or  less  recognized 
as  authorities,  while  accepting  without  question  the  say- 
ings of  writers  of  two  or  three  hundred  years  ago.  Accord- 
ing to  the  popular  belief,  one  which  is  supported  by  nearly 
every  author  of  modern  sporting  literature,  the  English 
Setter  is  supposed  to  have  originated  in  a  Spaniel  ancestry. 
To  show  on  what  this  belief  is  founded,  a  few  excerpts  from 
recognized  authorities  will  be  presented. 

Stonehenge,  in  his  work,  "The  Dogs  of  the  British 
Islands"  (edition  of  1867),  treats  of  the  Setter  as  follows: 

As  some  difference  of  opinion  appears  to  exist  with  regard  to  Setters,  we 
have  determined  thoroughly  to  satisfy  ourselves  as  to  their  origin  and  best 
form,  and  we  have  called  all  the  best  authorities  to  our  assistance.  We  pro- 

2  (IT) 


18  THE  AMERICAN   BOOK   OF  THE  DOG. 

pose  to  place  the  result  of  our  labors  before  the  public,  and  to  add  our  own 
conclusions. 

There  is  no  doubt  that  the  sport  of  hawking  was  known  and  practiced  by 
the  ancient  Britons,  and  that  the  Roman  was  totally  ignorant  of  the  science; 
but  the  invader  at  once  came  to  the  conclusion  that  the  system  might  be 
improved,  and  introduced  the  Land  Spaniel,  if  not  the  Water  Dog  also,  into 
this  country. 

These  dogs  roused  the  game,  and  this  was  all  that  the  hawker  required  of 
them  in  those  early  days;  but  in  after  years,  as  we  shall  see,  dogs  were  required 
to  point,  or,  in  the  language  of  the  quaint  old  WTiter,  "  sodainely  stop  and  fall 
down  upon  their  bellies,"  and  having  so  done,  when  within  two  or  three  yards, 
"then  shall  your  Setter  stick,  and  by  no  persuasion  go  further  till  yourself 
come  in  and  use  your  pleasure." 

At  first,  then,  without  doubt,  the  Spaniel  was  merely  used  as  a  springer 
for  the  hawk,  which  was  subsequently  neglected  for  the  net;  and  the  pro- 
pensity of  the  dog  to  pause  before  making  his  dash  at  game  was  cultivated 
and  cherished,  by  breeding  and  selection,  until,  at  last,  gratified  by  observing 
the  action  of  the  net,  he  yielded  his  natural  impulse  of  springing  at  all,  and 
set,  or  lay  down,  to  permit  the  net  to  be  drawn  over  him.  After  this,  the 
hawker  trained  his  Spaniel  to  set;  then  he  cast  off  his  hawks,  which  ascended 
in  circles,  and  "waited  on"  until  his  master  roused  the  quarry  from  its  con- 
cealment, when  she  pounced  upon  it  like  a  pistol-shot. 

When  used  either  with  hawks  or  for  the  net  (especially  in  the  latter  case), 
a  far  heavier  dog  answered  the  purpose  than  what  we  call  a  ' k  High-ranging 
Setter."  The  net  enveloped  a  whole  covey  in  its  meshes,  and  few  manors 
wrould  allow  of  many  coveys  being  taken  in  a  day;  whilst  the  disentangling 
the  birds,  and  securing  them,  allowed  time  for  the  heavy  dog  to  rest  and  regain 
his  wind. 

Richard  Surflet,  who  wrote  in  1600,  gives  us  the  following  information. 
Writing  of  the  Field  or  Land  Spaniel,  "of  which  sith  before  no  author  hath 
fully  intreated,"  he  describes  him  as  "gentle,  loving,  and  courteous  to  man,  more 
than  any  other  sort  of  dog  whatsoever;"  and  as  "  loving  to  hunt  the  wing  of  any 
bird,  especially  partridge,  pheasant,  quails,  rails,  poots,  and  such  like."  He 
tells  us  we  are  "  to  choose  him  by  his  shape,  beauty,  metal,  and  cunning  hunt- 
ing; his  shape  being  discerned  in  the  good  composition  of  his  body,  as  when 
he  hath  a  round,  thick  head,  a  short  nose,  a  long,  well-compast,  and  hairie 
eare,  broad  and  syde  lips,  a  cleere  red  eie,  a  thick  neck,  broad  breast,  short 
and  well-knit  joints,  round  feete,  strong  cleys  (high  dew-cley'd),  good  round 
ribs,  a  gaunt  bellie,  a  short,  broad  backe,  a  thicke,  bushie,  and  long-haired 
taile,  and  all  his  bodie  generally  long  and  well-haired. 

"  His  beautie  is  discerned  in  his  colour,  of  which  the  motleys  or  piede  are 
the  best;  whether  they  be  black-and-white,  red-and-white,  or  liver-hued-aud- 
white;  for,  to  be  all  of  one  colour,  as  all  white,  or  all  blacke,  or  all  red,  or  all 
liver-hued,  without  any  other  spot,  is  not  so  comely  in  the  field,  although  the 
dogs,  notwithstanding,  may  be  of  excellent  cunning. 

"His  mettall  is  discerned  in  his  free  and  untired  laboursome  ranging, 
beating  a  field  over  and  over,  and  not  leaving  a  furrow  untrodden,  or  one 


THE   ENGLISH    SETTER.  19 

unsearehed,  where  any  haunt  is  likely  to  be  hidden;  and  when  he  doth  it,  most 
coragiously  and  swiftly,  with  a  wanton  playing  taile,  and  a  busie  labouring 
nose,  neither  desisting  nor  showing  less  delight  in  his  labour  at  night  than  he 
did  in  the  morning. 

"And  his  cunning  hunting  is  discerned  by  his  casting  about  heedfully, 
and  running  into  the  wind  of  the  prey  he  seeketh;  by  his  stillnesse  and  quiet- 
nesse  in  hunting,  without  babbling  or  barking;  but  when  he  is  upon  an  assured 
and  certain  haunt,  by  the  manner  of  his  ranging,  and  when  he  compasseth  a 
whole  field  about  at  the  first,  and  after  lesneth  and  lesneth  the  circumference, 
till  he  have  trodden  every  path,  and  brought  the  whole  circuit  to  one  point; 
and  by  his  more  temperate  and  leisurely  hunting,  when  he  comes  to  the  first 
scent  of  the  game,  sticking  upon  it,  and  pricking  it  out  by  degrees;  not  open- 
ing or  questing  by  any  means,  but  whimpering  and  whining  to  give  his 
master  a  warning  of  what  he  scenteth,  and  to  prepare  himself  and  his  hawke  for 
the  pleasure  he  seeketh;  and  when  he  is  assured  of  his  game,  then  to  quest  out 
loudly  and  freely." 

After  describing  Spaniels  which  "delight  in  plains  or  the  open  fields,"  and 
others  more  adapted  for  covert,  he  goes  on  to  say:  "There  is  another  sort  of 
Land  Spannyels  which  are  called  Setters,  and  they  differ  nothing  from  the  former, 
but  in  instruction  and  obedience,  for  these  must  neither  hunt,  range,  nor 
retaine,  more  or  less,  than  as  the  master  appointeth,  taking  the  whole  limit  of 
whatsoever  they  do  from  the  eie  or  hand  of  their  instructor.  They  must  never 
quest  at  any  time,  what  occasion  soever  may  happen,  but  as  being  dogs  with- 
out voices,  so  they  must  hunt  close  and  mute.  And  when  they  come  upon  the 
haunt  of  that  they  hunt,  they  shall  sodainely  stop  and  fall  down  upon  their  bellies, 
and  so  leisurely  creep  by  degrees  to  the  game  till  they  come  within  two  or  three 
yards  thereof,  or  so  neare  that  they  can  not  press  nearer  without  danger  of 
retrieving.  Then  shall  your  Setter  stick,  and  by  no  persuasion  go  further 
till  yourself  come  in  and  use  your  pleasure.  Now  the  dogs  which  are  to  be 
made  for  this  pleasure  should  be  the  most  principall,  best,  and  lustiest  Spann- 
yel  you  can  get,  both  of  good  scent  and  good  courage,  yet  young,  and  as  little 
as  may  be  made  acquainted  with  much  hunting." 

There  is  no  doubt  that  the  Setter  is  a  Spaniel,  brought  by  a  variety  of 
crosses  (or  rather,  let  us  say,  of  careful  selections)  to  the  size  and  form  in 
which  we  now  find  him.  He  is  the  most  national  of  all  our  shooting  dogs,  and 
certainly  has  existed  for  four  centuries.  His  form  probably  has  improved. 

The  net  used  in  different  countries  required  the  same  character  of  dog. 
He  might  be  slow,  heavy,  or  slack,  and  soon  fatigued,  but  he  would  answer 
the  purpose.  But  when  shooting  flying  superseded  the  use  of  the  net,  the 
moors,  the  Grampians,  the  Norfolk  turnips  (before  they  were  sown  in  drills), 
the  Irish  potato-fields,  the  low  Scottish  wolds,  or  the  fens  of  Lincoln,  all 
required  dogs  of  different  types,  accommodated  to  their  several  hunting- 
grounds. 

The  description  of  the  Setter's  manner  of  hunting  is 
both  quaint  and  spirited;  yet  there  is  nothing  whatever  in 
the  writings  quoted  which  implies  that  the  Setter  had  a 


20  THE    AMERICAN    BOOK    OF   THE   DOG. 

Spaniel  origin.  Palpably  the  Setter  was  then  an  established 
breed,  as  shown  by  the  assertion  that  "there  is  another 
sort  of  Land  Spannyels  which  are  called  Setters"  That 
Setters  and  Spaniels  should  be  classed  as  being  of  the  same 
family,  several  centuries  ago,  is  not  remarkable;  nor  is  it 
remarkable  that  a  sporting  writer' s  dicta  at  that  time  should 
be  unquestioned,  since  there  were  but  few  of  them,  and 
people  at  large  were  uneducated  in  such  matters.  With 
all  the  advantages  of  a  sporting  press,  a  multitude  of 
writers,  an  extensive  sporting  literature,  and  numerous  an- 
nual bench  shows  and  field  trials  as  educational  institutions, 
there  have  grown  up  a  wonderful  diversity  of  opinion  and 
misinformation  in  respect  to  the  different  breeds  at  the 
present  day.  It  is  not  strange,  therefore,  that,  in  the  year 
1600,  Richard  Surflet  classed  the  Setter  as  a  Spaniel, 
although,  as  mentioned  hereinbefore,  he  refers  to  this  breed 
as  "another  sort  of  Land  Spannyel." 

In  the  chapter  on  the  Sussex  Spaniel,  in  the  same  work, 
Stonehenge  says:  "About  the  year  1555,  a  duke  of 
Northumberland  trained  one  'to  set  birds  for  the  net;' 
and  soon  afterward  the  Setter  was  produced,  either  by 
selection  or  by  crossing  the  Talbot  Hound  and  Spaniel." 
The  utter  absurdity  and  thoughtlessness  of  such  an  illog- 
ical statement  is  self-evident  to  anyone. 

A  duke  trained  a  Sussex  Spaniel  to  point,  and  soon  after- 
ward the  breed  of  Setters  was  produced.  Why  could  not 
all  breeds  be  thus  taught  to  point  ?  This  is  rendered  still 
more  absurd  by  the  fact,  well  known  to  all  students  of 
natural  history,  that  an  educational  act  is  not  transmitted 
to  the  progeny.  That  Stonehenge  was  not  quite  positive 
in  his  inferences  is  shown  by  his  remarks  in  the  revised 
edition  of  the  same  work,  published  in  1878,  wherein  he 
treats  the  subject  as  follows:  "The  Setter  is,  without  doubt, 
either  descended  from  the  Spaniel,  or  both  are  offshoots  of 
the  same  parent  stock,  originally — that  is,  before  the 
improvements  in  the  gum  introduced  the  practice  of  shoot- 
ing flying,  it  is  believed  that  he  was  merely  a  Spaniel 
taught  to  '  stop '  or  '  set '  as  soon  as  he  came  upon  the 


22  THE   AMERICAN   BOOK   OF  THE   DOG. 

scent  of  the  partridge,  when  a  net  was  drawn  over  the 
covey  by  two  men;  hence  he  was  made  to  drop  close  to 
the  ground,  an  attitude  which  is  now  unnecessary."  There 
is  thus  an  absence  of  positiveness  in  his  later  opinions  on 
the  subject;  in  fact,  there  is  no  proof  adduced  whatever  to 
support  the  speculation. 

Gordon  Stables  briefly  disposes  of  the  subject,  in  "  The 
Practical  Kennel  Guide,"  as  follows:  ''The  Setter  used  to 
be  called  a  '  Setting  Spaniel,'  and  was  known  in  England 
long  before  the  Pointer,  and  was  probably  first  introduced 
by  the  Romans." 

Laverack,  in  his  work,  "The  Setter,"  says: 

\  I  am  of  the  opinion  that  all  Setters  have  more  or  less  originally  sprung 
from  our  various  strains  of  Spaniels,  and  I  believe  most  breeders  of  any 
note  agree  that  the  Setter  is  nothing  more  than  a  Setting  Spaniel.  How  the 
Setter  attained  his  sufficiency  of  point  is  difficult  to  account  for,  and  I  leave 
that  question  to  wiser  heads  than  mine  to  determine.  The  Setter  is  said  and 
acknowledged,  by  authorities  of  long  standing,  to  be  of  greater  antiquity  than 
the  Pointer.  If  this  be  true,  and  I  believe  it  is,  the  Setter  can  not  at  first  have 
been  crossed  with  the  Pointer  to  render  him  what  he  is. 

A  more  modern  writer,  one  who  is  generally  very  sound, 
and  always  instructive,  Mr.  Hugh  Dalziel,  treats  the  subject 
at  some  length.  The  following  quotations  give  the  main 
points  of  his  position: 

Difficult  as  it  admittedly  is  to  trace  the  history  of  any  of  our  modern 
breeds  of  dogs,  although  in  so  many  instances  their  manufacture,  if  I  may  use 
the  term,  into  their  present  form  is  of  comparatively  recent  date,  there  is,  in 
respect  to  the  Setter,  a  general  agreement  among  writers  and  breeders  that  our 
present  dog  is  largely  derived  from  the  Spaniel;  indeed,  the  proofs  of  this  are 
conclusive.  The  family  likeness  is,  in  many  respects,  yet  strongly  preserved; 
and  in  some  kennels  where  they  have  kept  pretty  much  to  their  own  blood, 
following  different  lines  from  our  show  and  field-trial  breeders,  this  is  markedly 
so.  The  writer  on  Setters  in  the  Sportsman's  Cabinet,  1802,  tells  us  that  in 
his  day,  in  the  northern  counties,  the  Pointer  was  called  the  Smooth  Spaniel, 
the  Setter  the  Rough  Spaniel;  and  although  he  speaks  of  this  localism  with 
surprise,  as  a  misnomer,  it  was  really  the  preservation  of  an  old  distinction — 
the  Setters,  or  Setting  Spaniels,  being  so  named  to  divide  them  from  their 
congeners,  used  for  different  work,  and  named  Cockers  and  Springers. 

Somewhat  inconsistently  with  the  conclusion  that  "the 
proofs  are  conclusive,"  Mr.  Dalziel  continues: 


THE   ENGLISH    SETTEE.  23 

Whether  the  modern  Setter  has  been  produced  from  the  Spaniel  by  care- 
ful selection,  or  by  a  cross  with  the  Pointer  or  some  other  breed,  it  is  difficult 
to  decide. 

In  the  American  Kennel  and  Sporting  Field,  the  late 
Arnold  Barges  voiced  the  common  belief  in  the  following : 

The  best  of  modern  writers,  among  whom  I  may  mention  Stonehenge, 
Laverack,  Idstone,  all  say  that  the  Setter  is  a- direct  descendant  of  the  Land 
Spaniel,  and  speak  of  a  Setting  Spaniel  as  the  first  Setter.  There  is  no  doubt 
that  this  is  the  correct  theory,  and  that  our  Setter  is  a  pure,  unadulterated,  but 
improved  Spaniel. 

Briefly,  nearly  all  modern  writers,  owners,  and  breeders 
hold  these  opinions  in  the  main,  there  being  some  variation 
here  and  there;  but  however  much  these  beliefs  may  vary 
one  from  another,  they  all  have  their  inspiration  in  the  facts 
that  the  Setter  was  in  ancient  times  called  a  "Setting 
Spaniel,"  and  that  he  has  some  analogies  in  common  with 
the  Spaniel. 

A  few  of  the  objections  against  the  theory  that  the 
aboriginal  ancestry  of  the  Setter  was  in  the  Spaniel  may 
be  mentioned: 

First.  The  arguments  and  proofs  adduced  are  founded 
on  such  imperfect  data,  with  no  contemporaneous  support, 
that  they  could  be  applied  with  equal  force  in  proving  that 
the  Spaniel  is  a  variation  of  the  Setter.  "Setting  Span- 
iel" might  be  a  localism,  as  was  calling  the  Pointer  a 
"Smooth  Spaniel." 

Second.  Those  who  assert  that  the  Setter  is  an  improved 
Spaniel  are  not  positive  or  consistent  in  the  assertion,  and 
•depend  more  upon  the  numerous  repetitions  of  matters  of 
hearsay,  all  of  which  center  more  to  the  inconclusive  fact 
that  some  centuries  ago  the  Setter  was  called  a  "Setting 
Spaniel,"  than  upon  any  absolute  knowledge. 

Third.  If  the  Land  Spaniel  had  such  an  inherent  tend- 
ency to  variation,  it  would  undoubtedly  have  multiplied 
the  variations,  thus  forming  numerous  sub- varieties,  or  dis- 
tinct breeds.  It  is  well  known,  however,  that  the  Setter 
breeds  true  to  race-forms,  as  does  also  the  Spaniel. 

Fourth.  If  the  Spaniel  did  throw  off  a  variety — for 
"without  some  variation  there  could  not  have  been  any 


24  THE  AMERICAN   BOOK   OF   THE  DOG. 

change  of  form — it  would  probably  have  been  lost  by  inter- 
crossing with  the  parent  type,  by  the  natural  tendency  of 
animal  organizations  to  revert  to  parental  forms,  or  by  the 
destruction  of  the  variation  as  being  mongrel.  This  con- 
jecture is  not  improbable,  since  no  breeder  at  the  present 
day  would  consider  his  stock  pure  if  the  progeny  were  not 
true  to  type,  nor  would  he  allow  such  progeny  to  exist; 
therefore  there  is  no  probability  that  such  variation  would 
be  cultivated  and  preserved,  even  if  it  existed. 

Fifth.  There  would,  in  all  probability,  be  in  existence 
numerous  intermediate  gradations  of  forms  from  the  Setter 
to  the  Springer,  showing  more  or  less  perfectly  the  different 
stages  of  transition;  for  it  is  hardly  tenable  to  suppose 
their  total  destruction,  leaving  the  two  breeds  distinctly 
established,  without  any  connecting  link  between  them. 

Sixth.  There  is  an  absurdity  in  the  statement  that  a 
Spaniel  was  taught  to  point,  and  that  soon  thereafter  the 
instinct  became  general;  for  if  one  educational  matter- 
became  hereditary,  why  did  not  all  others  become  heredi- 
tary at  the  same  time  and  in  the  same  manner  ? 

Seventh.  The  pointing  instinct,  tas  exhibited  by  the 
Pointer  and  Setter,  is  applied  for  their  own  profit  in  hunt- 
ing, and  has  no  reference  whatever  to  the  purposes  of  the 
gun. 

In  advancing  on  their  prey,  of  which  game  birds  are  but 
a  part,  Setters  (and,  for  that  matter,  Pointers  also)  must 
approach  cautiously  on  the  birds  which  are  lying  close  and 
concealed  from  view.  The  dog  must  rely  solely  on  his  pow- 
ers of  scent  in  his  approach  to  the  place  of  concealment,  and 
must  locate  the  birds  with  precision  to  make  a  success  of 
his  effort.  As  he  approaches  the  birds,  his  muscles  become 
tense,  preparatory  to  the  spring  to  kill,  and  he  stops  for  a 
few  moments  to  gauge  the  distance  and  location  of  the  birds, 
then  springs  with  astonishing  quickness  and  precision,  and 
not  infrequently  effects  a  capture.  If  he  has  the  birds  accu- 
rately located  as  he  draws  to  them,  the  preparatory  pause, 
technically  called  the  point,  will  be  very  short,  or  perhaps 
there  will  be  none.  This  phenomenon  is  such  as  is  exhibited 


THE  ENGLISH   SETTER.  25 

by  dogs  in  training,  and  not  such  as  is  exhibited  by  broken 
dogs.  It  requires  a  long  course  of  training  to  bring  the  dog 
to  steadiness  on  his  points  to  subserve  the  purposes  of  the 
sportsman;  but  this  only  shows  that,  by  training,  the  sports- 
man has  diverted  to  his  own  use  a  quality  which  is  an  aid 
to  the  dog  in  gaining  a  food-supply  in  a  state  of  nature,  the 
dog  being  a  carnivorous  animal.  That  the  act  of  pointing, 
so  far  as  its  practical  application  is  concerned,  is  but  par- 
tially instinctive  is  demonstrated  by  the  various  methods 
which  the  Setter  has  in  pursuing  his  prey;  for  instance, 
when  drawing  on  the  trail  of  birds,  he  is  mute,  and  shows 
the  greatest  caution  in  avoiding  making  any  noise,  knowing 
that  noise  would  alarm  the  prey  and  destroy  all  chances,  as 
a  chase  after  birds  would  be  hopeless.  In  chasing  rabbits, 
which  are  a  part  of  his  prey,  and  which  he  hunts  with 
greater  zest  than  birds,  he  gives  tongue  merrily  and  makes 
no  attempt  at  caution.  That  this  trait  of  pointing  may  also 
be  acquired  is  a  well-attested  fact.  The  writer  had  a  Bull 
Terrier  which  was  an  excellent  squirrel-dog.  From  seeing 
an  occasional  ruffed  grouse  shot,  he  learned  that  they  were 
objects  of  pursuit.  When  he  struck  the  trail,  he  would 
road  cautiously  and  silently,  making  a  point  at  the  proper 
place  with  excellent  judgment,  and  in  this  manner,  by  his 
intelligence,  giving  many  good  shots.  On  squirrels,  he  was 
noisy  and  rapid  in  his  work.  There  are  a  number  of  such 
instances  mentioned  by  authors. 

Yet  the  popular  belief,  in  respect  to  the  purposes  of  the 
pointing  instinct,  is  opposed  to  these  views. 

The  following,  from  "  British  Dogs,"  contains  the  gist  of 
the  popular  teachings  and  belief  on  the  subject:  "I  look 
upon  the  form  exhibited  by  Pointers,  and  some  Setters, 
when  standing  to  game  as  an  inherited  habit,  the  result 
of  education.  The  stop,  or  point,  voluntarily  made  by  our 
dogs  now,  is  the  inherited  result  of  training  the  breed,  gen- 
eration after  generation,  to  forego  the  spring  onto  the  game 
natural  to  a  carnivorous  animal,  in  order  to  serve  the  gun." 
This  is  quoted  as  being  an  accurate  expression  of  how  the 
pointing  instinct  was  developed;  therefore  it  will  serve  as 


26  THE  AMERICAN    BOOK   OF  THE   DOG. 

an  expression  of  the  general  belief  and  not  as  that  of  a 
single  individual. 

It  does  not  explain  in  the  least  how  the  instinct  origi- 
nated, for  at  the  beginning  it  could  not  be  "an  inherited 
habit,  the  result  of  education."  It  is  still  more  inexplica- 
ble when  we  remember  that  so  few  individuals  were  taught 
to  point.  Moreover,  educational  properties  are  not  trans- 
mitted; if  so,  the  constant  training  which  dogs  have  received 
in  domestic  life,  for  innumerable  generations,  would  be 
inherited;  that  they  are  not  can  readily  be  seen  when  com- 
paring the  behavior  of  a  dog  which  has  been  reared  in  and 
about  the  house,  from  puppyhood,  with  that  of  one  which 
has  been  reared  exclusively  in  a  kennel.  Other  educational 
acts  which  are  constantly  taught  to  all  dogs  are  not  inher- 
ited; therefore,  why  should  an  act  taught  to  a  few  dogs 
become  instinctive  in  a  breed  of  dogs  ?  It  is  against  all 
experience  that  an  educational  act  taught  to  one  genera- 
tion should  be  transmitted  to  succeeding  generations.  The 
horse,  through  many  centuries,  has  been  given  a  thorough 
education,  one  which  included  a  much  larger  percentage  of 
the  breed  than  does  the  education  of  Setters;  yet  the  colts 
of  to-day  have  to  be  educated  precisely  in  the  same  manner 
as  their  parents  were.  Thus  if  one  educational  quality 
became  instinctive  by  education,  why  did  not  all  other  edu- 
cational qualities,  which  were  equally  or  more  uniformly 
taught,  also  become  instinctive  ?  This  merely  shows  an 
inconsistency  in  the  position;  but  even  without  this,  it  is 
untenable,  otherwise  the  teachings  of  naturalists  must  give 
way  to  the  speculations  of  those  who  have  given  the  matter 
superficial  consideration. 

Darwin,  in  "The  Origin  of  Species,"  when  speaking  of 
instinct,  says : 

Domestic  instincts  are  sometimes  spoken  of  as  actions  which  have  become 
inherited  solely  from  long-continued  and  compulsory  habit;  but  this  is  not 
true.  Again,  as  in  the  case  of  corporeal  structure,  and  conformably  to  my 
theory,  the  instinct  of  each  species  is  good  for  itself,  but  has  never,  as  far  as 
we  can  judge,  been  produced  for  the  exclusive  good  of  others. 

In  other  words,  an  animal  never  has  an  instinct  for  the 
benefit  of  some  other  animal;  instincts  being  directly  for 


28  THE  AMERICAN   BOOK   OF   THE   DOG'. 

the  benefit  of  the  individual  having  them,  or  the  preserva- 
tion of  the  species.  This  subject  admits  of  much  greater 
scope  in  treating  it,  but  sufficient  has  been  advanced  already 
to  give  the  reader  a  fair  general  knowledge  of  all  that  is 
known  of  the  origin  of  the  Setter.  He  may  have  had  a 
Spaniel  ancestry;  but  whatever  his  origin,  it  is  now  in  the 
realms  of  speculation.  At  best,  there  is  no  relation  what- 
ever between  such  a  trifiing  cause  and  such  a  great  and 
unrelated  effect;  however,  the  main  proofs  to  sustain  the 
belief  that  the  Setter  had  a  Spaniel  ancestry  are  fully  set 
forth,  so  that  the  reader  can  form  his  own  conclusions. 
When  carefully  analyzed,  there  is  but  one  conclusion;  i.  e., 
that  the  origin  of  the  Setter  is  not  known. 

The  development  of  the  English  Setter,  and  his  rise  to 
his  present  high  place  in  the  appreciation  of  sportsmen,  are 
matters  of  a  comparatively  recent  period.  Numerous 
strains  existed  in  England,  each  of  which  had  its  admirers 
and  supporters,  and  for  each  special  claims  of  excellence 
were  made. 

In  this  country,  the  stages  of  transition  in  the  develop- 
ment of  the  English  Setter  have  been  somewhat  irregular 
in  respect  to  progress;  but,  at  the  present  time,  it  is  gener- 
ally conceded  that  the  high-class  English  Setter,  as  he 
exists  in  this  country,  has  no  superiors.  The  first  impetus 
given  to  the  general  improvement  of  the  English  Setter  in 
America  was  due  to  the  importation  of  some  of  the  best 
blood  from  England,  and  the  coincident  growth  of  field 
trials.  The  Laveracks,  a  strain  so  called  from  having  been 
bred  and  preserved  by  the  late  Mr.  Laverack,  through  his 
life-time,  had  a  great  deal  of  prominence  in  the  sporting 
world,  although  the  purity  of  his  breeding,  and,  conse- 
quently, the  pedigrees  which  he  presented  to  the  public, 
were  questioned  as  to  their  correctness  by  prominent 
breeders,  and,  it  would  seem,  with  a  great  deal  of  justness; 
for  there  are  many  matters  incidental  to  them  which  it  is 
difficult  to  explain  consistently  with  Mr.  Laverack' s  pre- 
tensions. 

The  first  field  trials — the  inception  of  general  progress 


THE   ENGLISH    SETTER.  29 

in  field  sports  in  America — were  run  near  Memphis,  Tenn., 
in  1874,  under  "the  auspices  of  the  Tennessee  Sportsmen's 
Association.  For  four  or  five  years  thereafter,  general 
progress  was  slow;  breeders  having  so  many  conflicting 
interests  and  theories  in  regard  to  breeding,  as  to  which 
were  the  best  strains,  that  it  required  a  certain  length  of 
time  to  determine  which  were  the  best  dogs,  and  which 
the  best  methods  of  training — thus  approximating  to  at 
least  a  general  agreement  on  sporting  matters.  Although 
there  are  still  many  which  are  unsettled,  because  of  the 
whims,  preferences,  prejudices,  beliefs,  different  needs  and 
training  of  sportsmen,  it  is  a  matter  for  congratulation 
that  they  are  educated  to  a  point  where  differences  of 
opinion  are  now  confined  to  large  classes  of  sportsmen- 
one  class  against  the  other — where,  a  few  years  ago,  it  was 
each  individual's  opinion  arrayed  against  those  of  all 
others. 

The  field  trials  furnished  an  available  public  test  to 
determine  the  claims  of  the  different  breeds  and  strains  to 
superiority.  The  importation  of  the  blue-bloods,  so-called, 
led  to  the  keenest  of  competitions  in  the  field  trials  with 
the  native  stock;  the  result  demonstrating  the  superiority 
of  the  imported  stock  to  the  native.  The  win  of  a  dog  at 
a  field  trial  added  largely  to  his  monetary  value,  as  well  as 
to  the  satisfaction  of  his  owner  in  having  the  best,  or  one 
of  the  best  dogs;  thus  establishing  a  standard  for  others  to 
strive  for.  In  this  manner,  the  spirit  of  rivalry  or  emula- 
tion which  the  competition  engendered,  created  a  wide- 
spread and  active  demand  for  better  dogs  as  to  field-work, 
and  purer  blood  as  to  breeding.  This,  in  turn,  resulted  in 
engaging  breeders  in  efforts  to  supply  the  demand;  and  as 
the  blue-bloods  added  to  their  victories  over  the  native  Set- 
ter, the  latter  dropped  more  and  more  out  of  the  competi- 
tion, until,  at  the  present  day,  they  are  seldom  represented 
in  the  field  trials,  and  but  little  in  the  pedigrees  of  the 
favorite  lines  of  breeding— in  most  instances  not  at  all. 
En  passant,  it  may  be  said  that  the  native  Setter  had 
many  admirable  qualities,  but  was  chiefly  deficient  in  the 


30  THE  AMERICAN   BOOK   OF  THE:  DOG. 

speed  and  dash  of  the  imported  stock.  The  Llewellin  Set- 
ter— a  cross  of  the  Duke-Rhsebe  blood  on  the  Laverack — a 
strain  of  English  Setters  bred  by  Mr.  Llewellin  (England), 
found  greater  favor  with  sportsmen  in  this  country  than 
any  other  strain;  and  the  fine -bred  English  Setter  in  this 
country  at  the  present  time  has  more  of  this  blood  than 
any  other,  although  it  has  largely  lost  its  claim  to  the  name 
of  Llewellin;  that  is,  a  cross  of  the  Duke-Rhsebe  blood  on 
the  Laverack. 

With  field  trials  there  came  a  demand  for  a  higher 
grade  of  skillful  training;  and  as  the  occupation  became 
fairly  remunerative,  as  well  as  congenial  to  men  who  were 
passionately  fond  of  shooting,  it  rapidly  was  monopolized 
by  them,  and  soon  reduced  to  a  fine  art — at  least,  in  so  far 
as  the  complex  composition  of  a  dog's  nature  would  permit. 

The  special  characteristics  of  the  English  Setter  are  his 
beauty  of  form;  his  rich,  silky,  glossy  coat;  his  intelligence; 
his  merry,  dashing  manner  of  hunting  in  the  field;  his  keen 
scent;  and  his  remarkable  judgment  in  the  application  of 
his  efforts,  and  adaptability  to  the  character  of  the  grounds 
and  the  habits  of  the  game  birds  which  he  is  hunting. 
Combined  with  these  are  great  powrers  of  physical  endur- 
ance, which  he  usually  retains  until  the  encroachments  of 
age  impair  them.  In  motion  and  on  point,  the  English 
Setter  is  the  embodiment  of  beauty,  spirit  and  grace.  The 
high-class  English  Setter  finds  and  locates  his  birds  with 
great  rapidity,  when  he  once  catches  the  scent  of  them;  in 
fact,  any  habitual  hesitancy  or  pottering  are  elements  of 
certain  defeat,  in  a  competition. 

As  shown  by  the  records  of  public  competitors,  the  char- 
acter and  extent  of  ownership,  and  the  preference  and 
opinions  of  the  most  expert  sportsmen,  the  English  Setter 
is  the  superior  of  all  other  breeds  for  work  on  game  birds.* 

*  Among  those  who  are  prominent  as  breeders  or  owners  of  good  English 
Setters  may  be  mentioned  J.  Shelley  Hudson,  Covington,  Ky. ;  the  Memphis 
and  Avent  Kennels,  Memphis,  Tenn. ;  C.  Fred  Crawford,  Pawtucket,  R.  I. ; 
A.  M.  Tucker,  Charlestown,  Mass. ;  Dr.  S.  Fleet  Speir,  Brooklyn,  N.  Y. ; 
Theodore  Morford,  Newton,  N.  J.;  A.  H.  Moore,  Philadelphia,  Penn.;  E.  W. 


THE  ENGLISH   SETTER.  31 

In  breeding  Setters,  if  superior  field  performances  are 
the  qualities  to  be  attained,  the  rules  for  guidance  are 
simple.  Breed  only  to  dogs  of  the  highest  individual 
merit.  Breeding  to  a  poor  dog,  simply  because  his  brother, 
or  other  blood  relation,  is  a  known  good  performer,  is  the 
most  fallacious  theory  in  breeding.  The  poor  dog  is  much 
more  predisposed  to  transmit  the  poor  qualities  which  he 
has  than  the  good  qualities  of  his  related  blood  which  he 
has  not.  By  such  course,  the  best  strain  can  be,  in  time, 
rendered  utterly  worthless.  Without  this  care  in  selection, 
or  material  of  the  proper  quality  to  select  from,  but  little 
progress,  if  any,  can  be  made  in  improving  the  stock.  The 
Setter,  being  a  working  dog,  should  be  bred  on  as  near  a 
working  type  as  possible — a  type  which  admits  of  a  com- 
bination of  speed,  strength,  and  endurance.  The  elegant 
racing-lines  of  the  Greyhound  admit  of  the  exercise  of  great 
speed,  but  it  can  not  be  sustained  for  any  comparatively 
great  length  of  time.  The  Setter  requires  a  symmetrical 
but  stronger  construction,  the  demands  of  his  work  requir- 
ing that  he  should  be  able  to  work  all  day,  or  several  days 
in  succession,  at  a  reasonably  fast  pace.  Gradually,  how- 
ever, the  breed  of  English  Setters  has  been  diverging  into 
two  types — one  encouraged  by  bench  shows,  the  other  by 
the  demands  of  practical  field  sportsmen.  The  former  is  of 
a  cobbier  type,  with  a  preference  for  a  needless  profusion 

Jester,  St.  George's,  Del. ;  T.  Donoglme,  La  Salle,  111. ;  John  Bolus,  Wooster, 
Ohio  ;  Edward  Dexter,  Buzzard's  Bay,  Mass. ;  P,  Henry  O'Bannon,  Sperry- 
ville,  Va.;  Thomas  Johnson,  Winnipeg,  Man.;  Dr.  J.  E.  Hair,  Bridgeport, 
Conn.;  Davey  &  Richards,  London,  Ont.;  N.  B.  Nesbitt,  Chesterville,  Miss.; 
P.  H.  &D.  Bryson,  Memphis,  Tenn.;  W.  C.  Kennerly,  White  Post,  Va.;  F. 
Windholz,  528  Sixth  avenue,  New  York  City;  Dr.  N.  Rowe,  editor  American 
Field,  Chicago,  111.;  George  W.  Neal,  Westville,  Conn.;  the  Item  Kennels, 
Bethlehem,  Penn. ;  H.  F.  Schellhass,  No.  6  Brevoort  Place,  Brooklyn,  N.  Y. ; 
S.  Gardner,  box  160,  Mount  Vernon,  N.  Y  ;  Dr.  H.  Clay  Glover,  1293  Broad- 
way, New  York  City;  Gen.  W.  B.  Shattuck,  Cincinnati,  Ohio;  Hempstead 
Farm  Kennels,  Hempstead,  L.  I. ;  Rosecroft  Kennels,  102  Chambers  street,  New 
York  City;  J.  E.  Dager,  Toledo,  Ohio;  S.  L.  Boggs,  91  Fifth  avenue,  Pitts- 
burgh, Penn. ;  and  Cohannett  Kennels,  Easton,  Mass.  There  are  many  others 
that  I  should  like  to  mention,  but  it  is  impossible,  for  want  of  space,  to  give 
anything  like  a  complete  list. — ED. 


32  THE   AMERICAN   BOOK   OF  THE  DOG. 

of  feather — fashion  having,  in  a  measure,  taken  the  Setter 
from  his  domain  as  a  working  dog  and  transferred  him  to 
domestic  life  as  a  pet  and  companion;  a  position  to  which 
his  docility,  intelligence,  symmetry  of  form,  beautiful 
coat,  and  affectionate  disposition  eminently  qualify  him. 

Bench  shows  and  field  trials  have  become  established 
institutions,  and  gain  a  stronger  and  wider  support  year 
by  year.  The  preparation  of  a  dog  for  either,  entails  a  great 
deal  of  skillful  labor  and  diligent  attention.  For  a  bench 


DAISY    FOREMAN 
Owned  by  George  W.  Neal,  Westville,  Conn. 

show,  a  dog  must  be  in  the  highest  physical  condition; 
therefore  in  the  highest  state  of  health.  These  can  only  be 
accomplished  by  regular  feeding,  exercise,  grooming,  and 
cleanliness  in  his  yard  and  sleeping  quarters — particulars 
which,  by  the  way,  should  be  observed  at  all  times,  whether 
preparing  for  competition  or  not. 

A  Setter,  when  mature,  should  be  fed  but  once  a  day. 
This  is  sufficient  either  at  work  or  rest;  but  it  should  be 
good,  wholesome  food,  and  all  that  the  dog  will  consume. 
A  liberal  proportion  of  meat  may  be  used;  in  fact,  when  at 


THE  ENGLISH    SETTER.  33 

work,  the  dog  may  with  advantage  be  fed  on  a  meat  diet 
exclusively.  During  the  close  season,  the  dog,  if  confined, 
should  have  as  large  a  yard  as  possible  for  the  purpose  of 
exercising,  and  thereto  the  owner  should  give  him  a  run 
night  and  morning.  The  dog  is  a  nervous,  restless  animal, 
generally  of  unlimited  energy  and  spirits,  and  plenty  of 
exercise  is  an  absolute  requirement  to  keep  him  in  good 
health.  In  connection  with  feeding  a  dog,  it  may  be  men- 
tioned that  it  is  a  mistake  to  give  a  dog  a  large,  hard  bone. 
The  dog  will  gnaw  it  by  the  hour,  but  he  gets  no  nourish- 
ment, and  wears  out  his  teeth.  Young  dogs  may  be  fre- 
quently seen  with  their  front  teeth  worn  to  the  gums,  from 
the  effect  of  this  kind  of  misdirected  kindness.  Soft  bones, 
which  the  dog  can  crush  easily,  such  as  the  ribs  of  sheep, 
etc.,  keep  the  teeth  white  and  clean,  and  gratify  the  dog's 
craving  for  bones. 

Good,  clean  straw  makes  an  excellent  bedding.  It 
should  be  changed  as  often  as  it  gets  broken  or  soiled; 
about  twice  a  week  will  usually  be  often  enough,  unless  the 
weather  should  be  very  rainy  and  the  ground  muddy, 
when  it  should  be  changed  of  tener.  Where  but  one  or  two 
dogs  are  kept,  any  dry,  clean  out-building  will  do  for  a 
kennel;  or  a  small  kennel  can  be  made  at  little  expense. 

The  field  training  of  a  dog  is  an  art  on  which  there  is  a 
voluminous  literature.  The  modern  trainer  has  improved 
greatly  on  the  methods  of  his  predecessors,  and  the  Ameri- 
can trainer  of  the  present  has  no  peer  in  his  special  calling; 
a  calling  which  has  its  hardships,  however,  for  it  is  shorn 
of  all  artificial  advantages  which  are  incidental  to  training 
on  a  preserve  in  England.  The  trainer,  when  the  training 
season  begins,  locates  in  some  favorable  section  in  the  South, 
where  he  has  an  abundance  of  old  fields,  open  and  cover, 
and  where  birds  are  known  to  be  plentiful;  thus  training 
his  dogs  in  actual  hunting.  In  this  manner,  they  get  their 
education  in  practical  work.  The  trainer  has  to  reconcile 
himself  frequently  to  the  discomforts  of  poor  lodgings, 
worse  fare,  and  isolation  from  congenial  civilization.  But 
fondness  for  the  dog  and  gun  overcomes  all  the  hardships 

3 


34  THE  AMERICAN   BOOK   OF  THE  DOG. 

of  the  profession,  and  the  trainer  often  can  not  be  induced 
to  engage  in  more  remunerative  and  settled  occupation. 
The  prices  for  training  a  dog  vary  from  $]  00  to  $150,  accord- 
ing to  the  perfection  in  training  which  the  owner  desires,  or 
the  reputation  of  the  trainer — winning  at  field  trials  adding 
to  a  trainer' s  reputation  and  to  the  demand  for  his  services. 

An  English  Setter  of  good  breeding,  showing  superior 
merit  and  winning  in  competition,  is  worth  from  $500  to 
$2, 000,  taking  the  sales  of  the  past  few  years  as  a  standard 
by  which  to  judge. 

The  training  of  a  dog  requires  from  five  to  six  months  to 
complete,  under  the  tuition  of  a  skillful  trainer.  When 
the  dog  is  ten  months  or  a  year  old,  he  is  at  the  best  age 
for  training,  having  then  sufficient  physical  development  to 
endure  the  work,  and  mental  capacity  to  understand  it. 

The  methods  of  training  in  vogue  at  the  present  time 
differ  radically  from  those  of  a  few  years  ago.  Then  it  was 
assumed  that  a  dog  should  be  trained  in  every  detail,  even 
in  the  manner  in  which  he  should  perform  his  work;  now 
the  dog  is  taught  to  direct  his  efforts  in  the  interest  of  the 
gun,  but  the  manner,  being  natural  to  him,  is  developed  to 
its  greatest  capacity  simply  by  giving  the  dog  ample 
experience  to  exercise  it;  for  without  ample  experience  to 
learn  methods  of  hunting,  after  his  own  manner,  he  can  not 
make  progress  in  skillful  hunting. 

The  most  essential  qualities  in  hunting  are  pointing  and 
ranging.  To  become  a  skillful  performer  and  proficient  in 
the  first  quality,  a  dog  must  have  delicate  scenting  powers 
and  great  judgment  in  using  them;  to  be  a  good  ranger,  he 
must  have  good  speed  which  is  well  and  uniformly  main- 
tained, and  great  stamina  to  sustain  long- continued  periods 
of  work.  To  these  he  must  add  great  intelligence,  to  the 
end  that  his  efforts  be  directed  with  judgment;  the  intelli- 
gence displayed  in  his  methods  being  commonly  called 
"bird  sense."  A  dog  possessing  the  latter  quality  will  be 
incomparably  superior  to  one  without  it,  even  if  the  latter 
is  equal  or  superior  in  other  qualities.  A  dog  having 
bird  sense  "  hunts  out  his  ground  in  the  most  thorough, 


. . 


THE   ENGLISH   SETTER.  35 

yet  intelligent  manner.  He  takes  Ms  course  from  one 
likely  place  to  another,  makes  a  circuit  about  likely  fields 
to  strike  the  trail  of  anything  which  may  be  feeding, 
avoids  bare,  unpromising  ground  in  his  casts,  and  always 
takes  advantage  of  the  wind  in  beating  about,  in  thicket  or 
open.  The  dog  which  beats  about  without  any  plan  in  his 
work,  hunting  promising  and  unpromising  ground  alike, 
never  becomes  a  skillful  finder.  The  dog  having  "bird 
sense ' '  always  has  a  good  memory,  and  if  hunted  on  any 
grounds  once  or  twice,  will  remember  the  location  of  every 
bevy  found,  and  hunt  them  out  afterward  with  remarkable 
quickness.  Therein  lies  the  great  superiority,  in  this 
country,  of  intelligent  ranging  over  the  artificial  method  of 
beating  out  the  ground,  called  quartering,  in  which  the 
dog  is  required  to  beat  out  the  ground  at  right-angles  to 
the  course  of  his  handler;  thus  going  constantly  in  parallel 
lines  excepting  when  turning  at  the  ends,  the  distance 
between  the  parallels  being  theoretically  the  range  of  the 
dog's  nose.  Thus  a  dog  with  keen,  sensitive  functions  of 
smell  could  take  wider  parallels  than  one  whose  nose  was 
dull  or  poor.  In  this  country,  no  attention  is  paid  to  the 
teaching  of  quartering  by  the  expert  handler;  and  indeed 
it  is  not  required.  If  a  dog  in  hunting  out  large  tracts  of 
country  can  not  do  so  intelligently,  he  is  imperfect  as  a 
hunter,  and  no  artificial  methods  of  ranging  can  supply 
the  natural  deficiency.  In  England,  quartering  is  useful, 
for  the  reason  that  the  grounds  and  manner  of  cultivation 
favor  it;  but  what  in  this  respect  is  advantageous  there,  is 
not  so  here. 

The  education  of  a  dog  should  begin  when  about  ten 
months  or  a  year  old.  It  should  not  be  inferred  that  noth- 
ing whatever  should  be  done  before  such  age;  on  the  con- 
trary, a  great  deal  is  taught,  but  it  is  done  by  taking  the 
puppy  out  for  exercise  runs,  and  by  associating  him  with 
his  master,  thus  enabling  him  to  learn  a  great  deal  from  his 
own  observational  powers.  Hence  a  puppy  should  never  be 
kept  chained  in  a  kennel  if  it  is  possible  to  avoid  it.  At 
ten  months  or  a  year  old,  the  puppy  has  outgrown  many  of 


36  THE   AMERICAN   BOOK   OF  THE  DOG. 

the  frivolous  habits  of  puppyhood,  besides  having  more 
physical  and  mental  capabilities. 

The  trainer  first  gives  the  pupil  a  thorough  course  of 
yard-training,  teaching  him  to  "Drop"  (to  lie  down  to 
order  and  signal),  to  "Hold  up"  (to  rise  to  order  and  sig- 
nal), to  " Go  on "  or  " Hie  on,"  to  walk  at  heel,  to  "Come 
in,"  and  to  retrieve,  although  the  latter  accomplishment  is 
better  left  out  till  his  second  hunting  season. 

To  teach  the  dog  to  drop,  tie  a  cord,  about  three  or  four 
feet  long,  to  his  collar;  hold  the  cord  in  the  left  hand,  a 
whip  in  the  right.  Give  the  order  "Drop"  and  a  moderate 
cut  of  the  whip  on  the  shoulder  at  the  same  instant;  repeat 
this  till  the  dog  lies  down,  being  particularly  careful  to 
avoid  hurry  and  to  use  the  ordinary  tone  of  voice.  After  a 
few  moments,  speak  to  him  kindly  and  give  the  order 
"Holdup." 

Be  careful  to  guard  against  such  noise  or  violence  as  will 
frighten  the  dog.  When  done  properly,  no  fears  are 
excited.  Let  the  lesson  last  about  fifteen  or  twenty  min- 
utes; then  pet  the  dog  a  few  minutes  before  giving  him  his 
liberty,  so  that  his  fears,  if  he  have  any,  will  be  dissipated. 
Give  two  lessons  each  day,  regularly,  and  regular  progress 
will  soon  be  apparent. 

"Hie  on"  or  "Go  on"  is  easily  taught  when  exercising 
the  dog;  the  order  which  frees  him  from  restraint  being- 
consonant  with  his  inclinations  always,  is  soon  learned. 

More  time  should  be  taken  to  teach  obedience  to  the 
order  "Heel"  during  the  yard-breaking,  as,  if  taught  thor- 
oughly, the  dog  may  become  habituated  to  walking  behind 
his  master,  and  may  come  in  from  hunting  whenever 
uncomfortably  fatigued  or  warm,  and  thus  acquire  a  very 
annoying  trait,  which  will  be  difficult  to  cure,  or  may  pos- 
sibly be  incurable. 

When  actual  field-work  begins,  it  is  the  better  way  to  let 
the  dog  have  his  own  way  for  several  days,  and,  if  he  be 
timid  or  indifferent,  several  weeks,  if  necessary  to  develop 
his  courage  or  interest.  Coincidently,  he  is  learning 
methods  of  pursuit  and  a  general  knowledge  of  details  per- 


THE  ENGLISH   SETTEE.  37 

taming  to  hunting.  The  dog  is  gradually  brought  into  sub- 
jection by  regular  hunting  and  skillful  use  of  the  check- 
cord  and  whip,  always  avoiding  such  punishment  as  will 
destroy  the  dog's  ardor  or  excite  violent  fear  of  his  master. 
As  to  the  manner  of  reading  and  pointing,  it  should  be  left 
entirely  to  the  dog;  the  effort  of  the  trainer  being  directed 
toward  establishing  steadiness  on  the  point  and  ranging  to 
the  gun.  If  the  trainer  be  constantly  endeavoring  to  estab- 
lish some  ideal  manner  of  working,  he  will  find  himself 
engaged  in  a  most  profitless,  wearisome,  and  endless  task; 
for  instance,  if  the  dog  roads  his  birds  naturally,  it  is  a  loss 
of  time  to  endeavor  to  make  him  proficient  in  hunting  for 
the  body-scent,  with  a  high  nose,  etc.  The  aim  should  be 
to  develop  the  capabilities  which  the  dog  has,  rather  than  the 
capabilities  which  some  other  dog  has  and  which  he  has  not. 

Retrieving  is  taught  either  by  what  is  called  the  natural 
method,  or  by  force.  In  the  former,  advantage  is  taken  of 
the  dog' s  fondness  for  play  during  puppyhood.  An  object, 
commonly  a  ball  or  glove,  is  thrown  out,  and  the  puppy 
runs  after  it,  takes  it  in  his  mouth,  and  is  ready  for  a  frolic. 
By  degrees  he  is  brought  to  fetch  it  to  command.  With  age 
the  playfulness  disappears,  and  with  regular  lessons  the 
obedience,  from  regular  discipline,  becomes  habitual. 

The  majority  of  trainers  and  handlers  order  their  dogs 
too  much.  The  fewer  orders  that  can  be  given,  the  better; 
and  the  most  artistically  trained  dog  is  the  one  which  will 
work  steadily  to  the  gun  without  orders. 

The  following  standards  and  points  of  judging  for  the 
English  Setter  are  taken  from  Stonehenge: 

Value.  Value. 

Skull.. 10    Feet 8 

Nose 10    Flag 5 

Ears,  lips,  and  eyes 4    Symmetry  and  quality 5 

Neck 6    Texture  of  coat  and  feather 5 

Shoulders  and  chest 15    Color 5 

Back,  quarters,  and  stifles 15 

Legs,  elbows,  and  hocks 12  Total 100 

The  points  of  the  English  Setter  may  be  described  as 
follows : 

The  sJcull  (value  10)  has  a  character  peculiar  to  itself, 
somewhat  between  that  of  the  Pointer  and  Cocker  Spaniel 


38 


THE  AMEKICAN   BOOK   OF   THE   DOG. 


—not  so  heavy  as  the  formers,  and  larger  than  the  latter' s. 
It  is  without  the  prominence  of  the  occipital  bone  so 
remarkable  in  the  Pointer;  is  also  narrower  between  the 
ears,  and  there  is  a  decided  brow  over  the  eyes. 

The  nose  (value  5)  should  be  long  and  wide,  without  any 
fullness  under  the  eyes.  There  should  be,  in  the  average 
dog  Setter,  at  least  four  inches  from  the  inner  corner  of  the 
eye  to  the  end  of  the  nose.  Between  the  point  and  the 
root  of  the  nose  there  should  be  a  slight  depression — a,t  all 


RODERIGO 
Owned  by  Memphis  and  Avent  Kennels,  Memphis,  Tenn. 

events,  there  should  be  no  fullness — and  the  eyebrows 
should  rise  sharply  from  it.  The  nostrils  must  be  wide  apart 
and  large  in  the  openings,  and  the  end  should  be  moist  and 
cool,  though  many  a  dog  with  exceptionally  good  scenting 
powers  has  had  a  remarkably  dry  nose,  amounting  in  some 
cases  to  roughness,  like  that  of  shagreen.  In  all  Setters, 
the  end  of  the  nose  should  be  black,  or  dark  liver- colored; 
but  in  the  very  best  bred  whites,  or  lemon-and-whites,  pink 


THE   ENGLISH   SETTER.  39 

is  often  met  with,  and  may  in  them  be  pardoned.  The 
jaws  should  be  exactly  equal  in  length,  a  "  snipe-nose,"  or 
"  pig- jaw,"  as  the  receding  lower  one  is  called,  being  greatly 
against  its  possessor. 

Ears,  lips,  and  eyes  (value  4). — With  regard  to  ears, 
they  should  be  shorter  than  the  Pointer's,  and  rounded, 
but  not  so  much  so  as  those  of  the  Spaniel.  The  ' '  leather ' ' 
should  be  thin  and  soft,  carried  closely  to  the  cheeks,  so 
as  not  to  show  the  inside,  without  the  slightest  tendency  to 
prick  the  ear,  which  should  be  clothed  with  silky  hair,  little 
more  than  two  inches  in  length.  The  lips  also  are  not  so 
full  and  pendulous  as  those  of  the  Pointer;  but  at  their 
angles  there  should  be  a  slight  fullness,  not  reaching  quite 
to  the  extent  of  hanging.  The  eyes  must  be  full  of  anima- 
tion, and  of  medium  size,  the  best  color  being  a  rich  brown, 
and  they  should  be  set  with  their  angles  straight  across. 

The  neck  (value  6)  has  not  the  full,  rounded  muscularity 
of  the  Pointer,  being  considerably  thinner,  but  still  slightly 
arched,  and  set  into  the  head  without  that  prominence  of 
the  occipital  bone  which  is  so  remarkable  in  that  dog.  It 
must  not  be  "throaty,"  though  the  skin  is  loose. 

The  shoulders  and  chest  Rvalue  15)  should  display  great 
liberty  in  all  directions,  with  sloping,  deep  shoulder-blades, 
and  elbows  well  let  down.  The  chest  should  be  deep  rather 
than  wide;  though  Mr.  Laverack  insists  on  the  contrary 
formation,  italicizing  the  word  wide  in  his  remarks  on  page 
22  of  his  book.  Possibly  it  may  be  owing  to  this  formation 
that  his  dogs  have  not  succeeded  at  any  field  trial,  as  above 
remarked;  for  the  bitches  of  his  breed,  notably  Countess 
and  Daisy,  which  I  have  seen,  were  as  narrow  as  any  Setter 
breeder  could  desire.  I  am  quite  satisfied  that  on  this  point 
Mr.  Laverack  is  altogether  wrong.  I  fully  agree  with  him, 
however,  that  the  "ribs  should  be  well  sprung  behind  the 
shoulder;"  and  great  depth  of  the  back  ribs  should  be 
especially  demanded. 

Back,  quarters,  and  stifles  (value  15). — An  arched  loin  is 
desirable,  but  not  to  the  extent  of  being  "reached"  or 
"  wheel-backed  "  — a  defect  which  generally  tends  to  a  slow, 


40  THE   AMERICAN   BOOK   OF  THE   DOG. 

up-and-down  gallop.  StiHes  well  bent  and  set  wide  apart, 
to  allow  the  hind  legs  to  be  brought  forward  with  liberty  in 
the  gallop. 

Legs,  elbows,  and  Jiocks  (value  12). —  The  elbows  and 
toes,  which  generally  go  together,  should  be  straight;  and 
if  not,  the  "pigeon-toe,"  or  in-turned  leg,  is  less  objec- 
tionable than  the  out-turn,  in  which  the  elbow  is  confined 
by  its  close  attachment  to  the  ribs.  The  arm  should  be 
muscular,  and  the  bone  fully  developed,  with  strong  and 
broad  knees;  short  pasterns,  of  which  the  size,  in  point  of 
bone,  should  be  as  great  as  possible  (a  very  important 
point),  and  their  slope  not  exceeding  a  very  slight  deviation 
from  the  straight  line.  Many  good  judges  insist  upon  a 
perfectly  upright  pastern,  like  that  of  the  Foxhound;  but 
it  must  not  be  forgotten  that  the  Setter  has  to  stop  himself 
suddenly  when  at  full  stretch  he  catches  scent,  and  to  do 
this  with  an  upright  and  rigid  pastern  causes  a  consider- 
able strain  on  the  ligaments,  soon  ending  in  "knuckling 
over;"  hence  a  very  slight  bend  is  to  be  preferred.  The 
hind  legs  should  be  muscular,  with  plenty  of  bone,  clean, 
strong  hocks,  and  hairy  feet. 

The  feet  (value  8)  should  be  carefully  examined,  as  upon 
their  capability  of  standing  wear  and  tear  depends  the  util- 
ity of  the  dog.  A  great  difference  of  opinion  exists  as  to 
the  comparative  merits  of  the  cat  and  hare  foot  for  stand- 
ing work.  Foxhound  masters  invariably  select  that  of  the 
cat;  and  as  they  have  better  opportunities  than  any  other 
class  of  instituting  the  necessary  comparison,  their  selection 
may  be  accepted  as  final.  But  as  Setters  are  especially 
required  to  stand  wet  and  heather,  it  is  imperatively  neces- 
sary that  there  should  be  a  good  growth  of  hair  between, 
the  toes;  and  on  this  account  a  hare  foot  well  clothed  with 
hair— as  it  generally  is — must  be  preferred  to  a  cat  foot 
naked,  as  is  often  the  case,  except  on  the  upper  surface. 

The  flag  (value  5)  is  in  appearance  very  characteristic  of 
the  breed,  although  it  sometimes  happens  that  one  or  two 
puppies  in  a  well-bred  litter  exhibit  a  curl  or  other  malfor- 
mation, usually  considered  to  be  indicative  of  a  stain.  It  is 


THE   ENGLISH   SETTER.  41 

often  compared  to  a  scimiter,  but  it  resembles  it  only  in 
respect  of  its  narrowness;  the  amount  of  curl  in  the  blade 
of  this  Turkish  weapon  being  far  too  great  to  make  it  the 
model  of  the  Setter' s  flag.  Again,  it  has  been  compared  to 
a  comb;  but  as  combs  are  usually  straight,  here  again  the 
simile  fails,  as  the  Setter's  flag  should  have  a  gentle  sweep; 
and  the  nearest  resemblance  to  any  familiar  form  is  to  the 
scythe,  with  its  curve  reversed.  The  feather  must  be  com- 
posed of  straight,  silky  hairs;  and  beyond  the  root,  the  less 
short  hair  on  the  flag  the  better,  especially  toward  the 
point,  of  which  the  bone  should  be  fine,  and  the  feather 
tapering  with  it. 

Symmetry  and  quality  (value  5). — In  character,  the  Set- 
ter should  display  a  great  amount  of  "quality,"  a  term 
which  is  difficult  of  explanation,  though  fully  appreciated 
by  all  experienced  sportsmen.  It  means  a  combination  of 
symmetry,  as  understood  by  the  artist,  with  the  peculiar 
attributes  of  the  breed  under  examination,  as  interpreted 
by  the  sportsman.  Thus,  a  Setter  possessed  of  such  a  frame 
and  outline  as  to  charm  an  artist  would  be  considered  by 
the  sportsman  defective  in  "quality"  if  he  possessed  a 
curly  or  harsh  coat,  or  if  he  had  a  heavy  head,  with  pend- 
ent, Bloodhound-like  jowl  and  throaty  neck.  The  general 
outline  is  very  elegant,  and  more  taking  to  the  eye  of  the 
artist  than  that  of  the  Pointer. 

The  texture  and  feather  of  coat  (value  5)  are  much 
regarded  among  the  Setter  breeders;  a  soft,  silky  hair, 
without  curl,  being  considered  a  sine  qua  non.  The  feather 
should  be  considerable,  and  should  fringe  the  hind  as  well 
as  the  fore  legs. 

The  color  of  coat  (value  5)  is  not  much  insisted  on  among 
English  Setters,  a  great  variety  being  admitted.  These 
are  now  generally  classed  as  follows,  in  the  order  given: 

(1)  Black  and  white  ticked,  with  large  splashes,  and  more 
or  less   marked  with    black,    known  as    "blue  belton;" 

(2)  orange  and  white  freckled,  known  as  orange  belton; 

(3)  plain  orange,  or  lemon  and  white;  (4)  liver  and  white; 
(5)  black  and  white,  with  slight  tan  markings;   (6)  black 


42  THE  AMERICAN   BOOK    OF  THE  DOG. 

and  white;  (7)  liver  and  white;  (8)  pure  white;  (9)  black; 
(10)  liver;  (11)  red  or  yellow. 

To  show  the  present  high  type  of  the  modern  English 
Setter,  several  portraits  of  well -known  prize-winners  are  pre- 
sented. The  exquisite  symmetry,  combined  with  strength, 
in  the  English  Setter  are  thus  made  apparent  to  the  eye. 

Daisy  Foreman  (A.  K.  C.  S.  B.,  No.  5711),  famous  as  a 
bench-show  winner,  was  whelped  June  14,  1885.  She  is  by 
Champion  Foreman,  out  of  Jolly  Nell.  She  is  black, 


PLANTAGENET. 
Bred  by  Mr.  J.  C.  Higgins,  Wilmington,  Del. 

white,  and  tan,  with  a  ticked  body,  and  evenly  marked. 
Her  weight  is  forty-three  pounds.  Her  winnings  are  as 
follows:  First  in  puppy  class,  New  York,  1886;  second 
and  two  specials  at  Waverly,  1886;  first  and  special  for 
best  English  Setter  at  Danbury,  1886;  first  at  Stafford 
Springs,  1886;  fourth  and  special  at  Newark,  1887;  second 
and  special  at  Providence,  1887;  first  at  Boston,  1887;  first 
at  Hartford,  1887;  first  at  Hornellsville,  1887;  first  at  Dan- 
bury,  1887;  second  at  New  York,  1887;  second  at  New 
York,  champion  class,  1888;  second  at  New  Haven,  chain- 


THE   ENGLISH    SETTER.  43 

pion  class,  1888;  second  in  challenge  class  at  Boston,  1889; 
first  in  challenge  class  at  Boston,  1890 — in  fact,  she  is  one  of 
the  best  English  Setter  bitches  bred  in  America,  She  is 
owned  by  Mr.  George  W.  Neal,  Westville,  Conn. 

Cincinnatus  and  Toledo  Blade  are  both  owned  by  Mr.  J. 
E.  Dager,  Toledo,  Ohio,  and  are  renowned  as  combining 
both  bench  and  field-trial  qualities.  Cincinnatus  is  black, 
white,  and  tan;  is  by  Count  Noble,  out  of  Dido  II.,  the 
choicest  Setter  blood  of  the  world.  He  divided  third,  all- 
age  stake,  Southern  Field  Trial  Club,  1888;  divided  fourth, 
all-age  stake,  Eastern  Field  Trials  Club,  1889.  On  the 
bench,  he  won  first  and  four  specials,  Columbus;  third, 
open  class,  and  first,  novice  class,  New  York,  1889;  first 
and  silver  medal  for  best  English  Setter  placed  in  any  field 
trial  in  America,  Chicago;  first  and  two  specials,  Toledo, 
1889. 

Toledo  Blade  is  black,  white,  and  tan;  is  by  Roderigo, 
out  of  Lillian,  famous  for  the  transcendent  superiority  of 
their  qualities  afield;  and  the  breeding  also  is  of  the  very 
choicest.  Toledo  Blade  won  second  in  the  all-age  stake  of 
the  Southern  Field  Trial  Club,  1888;  second,  all-age  stake, 
of  the  Eastern  Field  Trials  Club,  1889;  first  in  the  all-age 
Setter  stake,  Southern  Field  Trials,  1889.  At  bench  shows, 
he  was  V.  H.  C.,  Columbus;  second  at  Chicago,  1889. 

Roderigo,  owned  by  the  Memphis  and  Avent  Kennels,  is 
black,  white,  and  tan;  is  by  Count  Noble,  out  of  Twin 
Maud,  and  is  recognized  as  a  dog  of  decided  superiority. 
He  won  first  in  the  all-age  stake,  National  Field  Trial 
Club's  trials,  1885.  He  has  distinguished  himself  as  a 
wonderful  sire,  having  to  his  credit  a  list  of  remarkable 
field-trial  winners  in  his  progeny. 

Plantagenet  is  a  lemon  belton,  by  Dashing  Monarch, 
out  of  Petral,  and  a  celebrated  bench-show  -dog  a  few  years 
ago,  although  he  was  not  fine  enough  in  form,  being  too 
heavy  in  the  shoulders  and  a  bit  coarse  to  suit  modern 
ideas  of  what  the  Setter's  physique  should  be. 

Rowdy  Rod,  a  phenomenal  son  of  Roderigo,  out  of 
Juno  A.,  is  a  young  dog  which  ran  in  his  puppy  form  last 


44  THE  AMERICAN   BOOK   OF  THE   DOG. 

year,  and  by  the  very  superior  character  of  his  perform- 
ance, excited  the  admiration  of  the  most  exacting  field-trial 
fancier.  He  won  first  in  the  Eastern  Field  Trials  Club' s 
Derby,  first  in  the  Central  Field  Trial  Club's  Derby,  second 
in  the  Southern  Sportsmen's  Association's  all-age  stake, 
1890.  He  is  black  and  white  in  color,  and  besides  being  a 
workman,  is  handsome  withal.  He  is  owned  by  Mr.  George 
W.  Ewing,  Fort  Wayne,  Ind. 

Gloster,  owned  by  Mr.  James  L.  Breese,  Tuxedo,  New 
York,  is  black,  white,  and  tan,  by  Dashing  Rover,  out  of 
Trinket;  hence  he  also  has  a  royal  canine  parentage.  In  the 
field  trials  he  has  been  a  most  formidable  and  successful 
competitor,  vanquishing  the  most  noted  dogs  of  the  day  in 
public  competition,  as  the  following  list  of  winnings  will 
show:  First,  members'  stake,  and  divided  second  in  all -age 
stake,  Eastern  Field  Trials,  1886;  first  in  all-age  stake  and 
first  in  champion  stake,  same  club's  trials,  1887;  first,  mem- 
bers' stake,  same  club's  trials,  1888;  second,  members'  stake, 
same  club's  trials,  1889. 


THE  IRISH  SETTER. 


BY  MAX  WENZEL, 

Secretary  the  Irish  Setter  Club  of  America,  and 

B,  F.  SEITNER, 
Vice-President  the  Pointer  Club  of  America. 


LD  writers  have  advanced  the  theory  that  our  Setter, 
as  a  species,  is  the  product  of  the  mating  of  a  Span- 
iel with  the  Hound;  and  this  seems  to  be  as  plausible 
as  any  other  that  has  been  offered.  The  bird-chasing 
instinct  of  the  Spaniel,  mixed  in  the  offspring  with  the  love 
for  fur  which  is  inherent  in  the  Hound,  may  have  had  the 
effect,  at  the  earliest  age,  of  an  undecidedness  in  the  pres- 
ence of  game.  Being  at  first  unable  to  decide  whether, 
according  to  Spaniel  instinct,  to  bark  and  jump  the  game, 
or  whether  to  be  ruled  by  his  Hound  ancestor  and  follow 
the  foot-scent,  he  may  have  stopped  suddenly;  thus  estab- 
lishing the  first  point  on  game.  A  genius  of  a  sportsman, 
seeing  the  usefulness  of  such  a  quality,  probably  encouraged 
and  perfected  it  by  further  training,  giving  us  the  long  and 
the  short  haired  pointing  bird-dog.  This  theory  may 
appear  to  some  readers  as  lacking  in  the  matter  of  authen- 
ticity, and  yet  to  me  it  appears  reasonable. 

All  breeds  of  Hounds  and  Spaniels  have  no  doubt  been 
used  in  these  numerous  crosses,  accounting  for  the  great 
variety  of  our  pointing  dogs;  but  as  regards  the  Irish 
Setter,  I  am  inclined  to  believe  that  the  Red  Spaniel, 
crossed  on  the  old  English  Bloodhound,  has  formed  the 
parental  stock.  I  have  seen  many  Red  Spaniels;  have 
examined  them  closely  as  to  color  and  coat;  I  have  com- 
pared the  characteristics  of  the  Bloodhound  with  the  Irish 
Setter,  also  in  many  individuals,  and  have  plainly  met  the 
points  of  either  one  or  the  other  in  nearly  every  speci- 
men so  examined.  Not  to  appearance  alone  need  we  con- 
fine ourselves  in  this  investigation,  for  the  Bloodhound 

(45) 


46  THE  AMERICAN   BOOK   OF  THE  DOG. 

type  is  displayed,  not  only  in  the  over-prominent  occiput, 
the  pendulous  ears,  the  deep  flews,  but  also  in  the  voice  and 
in  the  carriage  of  the  tail;  and  above  all,  in  the  abominable 
style  of  so  many  Irish  Reds  in  the  field,  who  follow  scent 
with  nose  close  to  the  ground,  carrying  their  tails  curved 
over  their  backs  without  any  action  at  all. 

Many  sportsmen  of  modern  ideas  condemn  the  Red 
Setter  on  account  of  these  defects  found  in  individuals,  and 
there  is  a  wide-spread  prejudice  that  he  is  very  head- 
strong, requiring  breaking  every  season,  and  is  unreliable 
on  game;  yet  few  that  have  owned  really  good  ones  are 
willing  to  concede  all  this.  Such  assertions  have  their 
origin,  not  in  practical  trial  of  good  specimens  of  the  breed, 
but  largely  in  the  rehearsal  of  superannuated  writings. 

If  you  will  compare  the  oldest  works  on  the  dog  with 
our  modern  writings,  especially  of  English  origin,  you  will 
find  the  same  old  story,  copied  by  one  from  another,  credit 
seldom  being  given;  and  the  whole  breed  suffers  to-day 
from  the  criticisms — probably  well  deserved — of  some  rank 
specimen  that  may  have  lived  before  the  flood. 

This  is  not  an  uncommon  occurrence  in  books  on  various 
subjects,  more  especially  those  treating  of  natural  history; 
and  we  may  often  excuse  the  author,  for  he  errs  through 
ignorance. 

No  breeder  of  any  of  our  best  strains  of  Irish  Setters  will 
acknowledge  that  they  are  less  tractable  or  more  forgetful 
than  other  sporting  dogs — indeed,  I  know  many  that  are  per- 
fect in  disposition,  at  home  or  afield;  and  while  they  are  full 
of  fire  and  are  high-strung  as  a  rule,  if  given  the  proper  train- 
ing, they  will  prove  all  right,  and  even  more  enduring  than 
most  other  breeds  of  Pointers  or  Setters.  The  fact  that  many 
professional  hunters  use  and  prefer  the  Red  Setter,  speaks 
volumes  in  favor  of  his  high'  qualities  and  endurance. 
For  the  hardest  kind  of  every-day  work,  during  the  whole 
season,  we  see  many  market-shooters  use  the  Red  dog,  as 
the  most  reliable  to  work  on  partridge  and  woodcock,  in 
cold  or  hot  weather  alike.  Are  not  these  men  competent  to 
select  the  dog  that  suits  their  purpose  best  \  They  certainly 


THE   IRISH   SETTER.  47 

are;  and  many  of  them  select  the  Red  Irish  Setter,  for  the 
reason  that  it  takes  the  very  best  dog  extant  to  bag  the 
grouse  and  the  woodcock  in  such  numbers  as  to  earn 
living  wages  for  his  master.  For  the  English  snipe,  the 
Red  Setter,  as  a  rule,  proves  the  toughest,  fastest,  and 
keenest-nosed  Setter;  and  he  is  reliable,  in  all  weather  and 
under  all  conditions,  on  this  as  on  other  game. 

Can  any  modern  Pointer  or  silk-and- velvet  English  Setter 
do  this  work  as  well  as  the  Irish  Red  ?  Let  them  try  the 
snipe  on  a  raw,  windy  March  day — up  to  their  hocks  in  slush 
and  icy  water;  will  they,  especially  the  Pointer,  not  rather 
go  around  the  ditches  than  through  them  ?  Have  you  ever 
seen  the  English  Setter  or  Pointer  shiver  from  head  to  foot 
while  at  such  work  ?  These  breeds  are  good  in  their  places; 
but  the  Red  Irish  is  good  under  all  conditions. 

In  connection  with  the  claims  made  here  for  this  breed, 
I  regret  to  say  that  working  a  Red  Irish  on  game  and  keep- 
ing the  same  dog  for  bench-show  purposes  is  generally  out 
of  the  question,  as  work  in  the  field  unfits  this  breed, 
almost  absolutely,  to  compete  with  those  specimens  that 
are  kept  and  pampered  for  the  bench  alone,  where  a  rich, 
dark,  glossy  coat  seems  to  be  valued  above  any  and  every 
other  quality.  So  we  must  either  keep  one  kind  or  the 
other — the  dude  or  the  workman. 

Having  exhibited  Irish  Setters  every  year  since  1876,  at 
most  of  our  shows,  and  having  been  fairly  successful  as  a 
breeder,  I  should  be  content  with  my  lot;  yet  the  more  I 
see,  the  more  convinced  am  I  that  the  improvements  we 
look  for  in  our  favorite  breed  will  not  be  realized  through 
bench  shows,  because  the  average  fancier  will  be  guided  by 
the  awards  of  the  bench-show  judge;  and  that  which  should 
be  his  object,  namely,  the  raising  of  good  field  dogs,  will  be 
lost  sight  of,  unless  he  can  prove,  by  indisputable  evidence, 
that  the  prize  dog  is  also  backed  by  a  field  record  for  speed, 
style,  and  above  all,  nose. 

Through  the  bench  shows,  it  has  also  become  fashionable 
to  suppress  the  white  in  this  breed;  and  nowadays  many 
sportsmen  know  little  or  nothing  of  this  noble  breed  other 


48  THE  AMERICAN   BOOK   OF  THE  DOG. 

than  the  fact  that  there  must  be  no  white  on  him;  and  it 
has  gone  so  far  that  a  dog,  be  he  ever  so  good,  that  has  a 
white  spot  would  neither  be  salable,  nor  would  he  be  ever 
noticed  at  a  show.  You  may  rest  assured  that  those  who 
judge  a  Red  Setter  in  that  manner  have  not  gone  any  further 
than  the  A,  B,  C  of  the  matter.  I  refer  all  such  to  the 
English  Stud  Book,  wherein  it  is  shown  that  the  white  is 
perfectly  legitimate,  and  that  it  may  be  found  in  every  good 
strain  for  many  generations.  It  is  so,  has  been  so  always, 
and  will  be  so  forever.  Indeed,  it  is,  in  my  judgment,  a 
proof  of  purity  of  blood  rather  than  anything  else;  for  less 
white  is  found  in  strains  known  to  have  the  Gordon  blood 
than  in  the  absolutely  pure.  Besides,  the  English  and  our 
American  standards  admit  the  presence  of  white  on  chest  or 
toes,  and  a  blaze  or  strip  in  forehead.  The  fashion,  how- 
ever, overrules  in  this,  as  in  many  other  things,  good  com- 
mon-sense; and  I  see  that  some  of  our  enterprising  breeders 
are  regulating  their  prices  on  this  basis.  Are  we  progress- 
ing 3  Not  unless  we  make  it  our  first  aim,  in  breeding,  to 
reach  that  degree  of  perfection  which  we  find  in  the  modern 
English  Setter  and  the  high-class  Pointer  of  to-day,  in 
their  field-work. 

In  order  to  attain  these  ends,  I  see  no  better  way  than 
the  rule  followed  by  old-time  sportsmen,  to  always  select 
the  best  working  specimens,  those  possessed  of  high  speed, 
grand  style,  and  perfect  nose,  and  mate  them  with  others  as 
good,  or  if  possible,  still  better.  Pay  less  attention  to  breed- 
ing on  paper  and  to  the  pedigree  theory.  Never  mind  the 
show  condition  and  the  dark  color,  unless  we  find  these  all 
in  the  one  specimen;  but  remember  what  has  been  said 
before  on  this  subject. 

That  one  mating  of  two  good  specimens  will  do  all  you 
desire,  can  not  be  expected.  I  have  frequently  noticed 
that  the  sire  will  transmit  his  good  qualities  to  the  bitch 
puppies,  and  they  again  will  reproduce  them  in  their  male 
offspring,  oftener  than  directly  to  their  own  sons.  What- 
ever quality  is  bred  for,  must  be  constantly  looked  to  for 
several  generations.  This  is  the  only  sure  way  to  get 


(49, 


50  THE  AMERICAN   BOOK   OF   THE   DOG. 

uniform  results.  Inbreeding,  to  some  extent,  is  not  harm- 
ful; indeed  it  is  the  only  reliable  course,  if  practiced  within 
proper  limits,  with  well-selected  individuals,  as  the  breed- 
ing of  all  domestic  animals  has  abundantly  proven.  It 
will  take  but  a  few  years  of  such  breeding  to  produce 
puppies  that  will  go  afield,  at  almost  any  age,  and  instinct- 
ively hunt  and  chase  birds.  They  will  be  full  of  point  and 
style,  and  will  require  less  than  half  the  breaking  «6ur  dogs 
now  require. 

I  have  always  made  my  youngsters  mind  me,  and  am 
assisted  by  the  example  of  the  older  dogs.  I  have  them 
come  to  me  when  called,  teach  them  to  charge  anywhere, 
and  soon  have  them  under  full  control.  All  this  can  be 
done  by  kindness;  and  while  some  professional  handlers 
use  and  advocate  force,  I  believe  the  less  of  it  that  is  used, 
the  better  the  dog  will  be.  An  expert  handler  once  told 
me  that  the  first  thing  he  does  with  an  Irish  Setter  puppy 
when  he  takes  it  in  hand  is  to  give  it  a  sound  thrashing. 
It  is  needless  to  say  that  he  will  never  be  intrusted  with  a 
puppy  of  mine. 

Most  Irish  Reds  are  of  a  kind,  affectionate  disposition, 
and  are  easily  trained.  Desj)ite  their  reputation,  I  have 
found  this  so,  year  in  and  year  out,  in  my  own  kennel; 
and  I  have  had  many  that  have  taken  to  game  as  natu- 
rally as  to  walking.  '  A  long  time  ago,  I  owned  a  fine  young 
bitch,  and  wanted  her  trained.  She  was  sent  to  a  market- 
hunter  in  Sullivan  County,  New  York.  Three  months  later, 
I  went  there  to  see  my  dog  on  game.  She  was  taken  out, 
reluctantly,  by  the  trainer,  who  must  have  been  the  more 
surprised  of  the  two  of  us,  for  she  pointed  both  partridges 
and  quails  in  good  style,  and  without  command;  made  use 
of  the  retrieving  she  had  been  taught  by  me,  in  spite  of — as 
I  subsequently  learned — the  fact  that  she  had  never  been 
off  her  chain  since  I  sent  her  to  him.  I  was  satisfied,  of 
course;  and  to  this  day  I  have  not  had  a  better-nosed  nor 
a  stancher  dog.  I  have  hunted  her  for  years,  to  my  entire 
satisfaction;  she  is  living  now,  and  is  nearly  fourteen  years 
old. 


THE   IRISH   SETTER.  51 

Another  illustration  is  my  old  Champion  Chief.  He  has 
always  been  the  same  steady,  reliable,  every-day  dog;  first 
or  last  in  the  season,  he  would  point  his  birds  stanchly, 
and  needed  no  repeated  breakings.  The  first  one  has  lasted 
him  so  far  very  well;  and  while  "old  in  years,  he  still  looks 
fine  and  is  in  perfect  health,  confirming  my  experience  that 
Setters  of  this  breed,  while  maturing  later,  outlast  most  of 
the  dogs  of  other  breeds.  A  letter  recently  received  from 
South  Carolina  confirms  this  still  further,  as  Doctor  Jarvis 
writes  me  that  his  Champion  Elcho,  Junior,  though  nine 
years  old,  hunts  day  in  and  day  out,  and  does  most  excel- 
lent work  for  him. 

My  experience  with  this  breed  dates  back  nearly  twenty 
years,  and  I  feel  able  to  guarantee  this  disposition  of  our 
strain  of  dogs,  and  to  state  that  in  all  this  time  I  have  never 
owned  a  vicious  one.  I  have  seldom  seen  one  that  would 
not  make  an  excellent  playmate  for  a  child,  yet  I  have  had 
many  that  were  most  perfect  watch-dogs,  and  that  showed 
more  than  human  intelligence  in  discriminating  between 
proper  and  improper  sounds  and  doings  at  night,  without 
special  training  to  it. 

The  management  of  my  kennel  is  the  most  simple.  I 
have  no  kennel  buildings  except  a  rough  board  box  for  each 
dog,  with  a  wire  run  in  summer  and  stall  and  barn  for  win- 
ter, where  I  place  these  kennels.  If  one  becomes  infested 
with  vermin,  it  is  burned.  The  dogs  are  exercised  twice  a 
day,  for  half  an  hour,  where  they  have  access  to  the  spring 
brooks;  are  fed  once  a  day  in  summer  and  twice  in  winter. 
We  boil  beef  and  bones,  and  soak  half  a  loaf  of  toasted 
stale  bread  for  each  dog,  varying  this  now  and  then  with 
corn  and  oatmeal  mush  cooked  in  beef  broth;  and  they 
relish  it  all. 

When  I  have  a  sick  dog,  I  try  to  find  out  what  his 
trouble  is,  and  then  treat  him  accordingly,  and  am  very  par- 
ticular with  young  dogs  showing  symptoms  of  distemper, 
which  must  be  most  carefully  diagnosed.  There  is  no  such 
thing  as  a  distemper  cure  that  will  fit  all  cases.  Each  case 
requires  special  treatment;  and  hundreds  of  young  dogs,  I 


52  THE  AMERICAN   BOOK   OF  THE  DOG. 

am  sure,  are  killed  by  distemper  cures  alone— as  well  as  by 
the  man  who  " never  lost  a  dog  with  distemper."  The  man 
who  prescribes  a  lump  of  sulphur  to  be  put  into  the  patient's 
drinking-water  is  as  innocent  as  his  remedy;  the  man  who 
physics  your  dog  when  lie  has  the  typhoid  form  of  the 
complaint,  as  well  as  he  who  insists  on  putting  a  seton 
through  your  puppy's  neck  after  he  is  already  too  weak 
to  stand  on  his  legs,  should  never  be  employed  in  any  case. 


CHAMPION  TIM.* 
Owned  by  Mr.  Max  Wenzel,  Hoboken,  N.  J. 

These  heroic  remedies  are  freely  recommended  by  many 
members  of  the  fraternity  of  '*  Vets,"  especially  of  the  old 
school. 

*Dr.  William  Jarvis,  in  an  article  recently  published  in  the  American  Stock- 
keeper,  says  of  this  dog:  "  He  was  sired  by  Biz,  a  field-trial  and  bench-show 
winner,  and  out  of  Hazel,  a  daughter  of  Elcho  and  Rose,  the  latter  by  the 
famous  Palmerston.  Tim  is  a  large,  upstanding,  powerful  dog,  of  the  correct 
type,  and  very  fast.  His  record  is  as  follows:  First,  New  York,  Fanciers' 
Club,  1886;  third,  Newark;  third,  New  York;  first  and  special,  Hornellsville ; 
second  and  special,  with  Chief  as  brace,  Waverly,  1886;  fourth,  Newark;  first 
and  special,  Boston;  champion,  Hartford;  second,  champion  class,  New  York, 
etc.,  1887;  first,  champion  class  and  special,  New  York,  1888;  second,  field 
trials,  Fisher's  Island  Club,  1886.— ED. 


THE   IRISH   SETTER.  53 

To  use  the  proper  medicines  in  the  very  beginning  is  the 
most  important,  no  doubt;  and  when  I  notice  a  puppy's 
stools  come  of  a  gray  clay  color,  calomel,  in  five  to  six  grain 
doses,  has  always  the  desired  effect  of  regulating  the  bowels. 
The  patient  should  have  special  care,  warm  quarters,  should 
be  kept  quiet,  should  be  fed  better  than  usual,  but  a  less 
quantity;  and  in  case  of  failing  appetite  you  should  use  first 
some  qiiinine.  especially  if  the  patient  be  feverish,  and  some- 
times, in  very  high  fever,  tincture  of  aconite,  in  one  or  two 
drop  doses,  as  well  as  five  to  ten  drops  of  Fowler's  solution 
of  arsenic  for  a  short  time,  as  an  alterative. 

Yet,  with  all  due  care  and  attempts  at  half-way  scientific 
treatment,  I' must  admit  that  there  is  a  good  dear  of  "Dutch 
luck"  in  pulling  a  puppy  through  a  bad  case  of  distemper, 
and  having  him  prove  sound  afterward.  In  cases  where 
the  puppy  is  not  permanently  cured,  he  would  be  better 
dead  than  to  suffer  for  years,  or  for  life,  with  chorea;  it  is 
but  an  act  of  mercy  to  chloroform  him.  I  am  not  so  san- 
guine in  regard  to  curing  distemper  as  I  was  ten  years  ago. 

For  breaking  young  dogs  for  the  field,  I  usually  engage 
the  se vices  of  a  specialist  in  that  line.  My  youngsters  are 
rarely  handled  before  they  are  a  year  old,  and  over  dis- 
temper, when  they  are  sent  south  with  a  professional 
trainer. 

Below,  the  standard  of  the  Irish  Setter  Club  of  America 
is  given.  It  does  not  suit  us  all;  but  when  it  was  adopted, 
all  questions  were  fully  discussed,  and  the  points  varying 
from  the  English  standard  are  those  in  which  our  American 
dogs  required  improvement.  , 

STANDARD  AND   POINTS  OF  JUDGING  THE   RED  IRISH  SETTER. 

ADOPTED  BY  THE  IRISH  SETTER  CLUB  OF  THE  UNITED  STATES,  JULY,  1886. 

Head 10    Tail 8 

Eyes 5    Coat  and  feather 8 

Ears 5    Color 8 

Neck 5  Size,  style,  and  general  appearance  14 

Body 15 

Shoulders,  fore  legs,  and  feet 12        Total 100 

Hind  legs 10 

Head  should  be  long  and  lean.    The  skull  oval  (from  ear 


54  THE  AMEKICAN   BOOK   OF   THE   DOG. 

to  ear),  having  plenty  of  brain-room,  and  with  well-defined 
occipital  protuberance.  Brows  raised,  showing  stop.  The 
muzzle  moderately  deep  and  fairly  square  at  end.  From 
the  stop  to  the  point  of  the  nose  should  be  long,  the  nostrils 
wide,  and  the  jaws  of  nearly  equal  length;  flews  not  to 
be  pendulous.  The  color  of  the  nose  dark  mahogany  or 
dark  chocolate,  and  that  of  the  eyes  (which  ought  not  to  be 
too  large)  rich  hazel  or  brown.  The  ears  to  be  of  moderate 
size,  fine  in  texture,  set  on  low,  well  back,  and  hanging  in  a 
neat  fold  close  to  the  head. 

Neck  should  be  moderately  long,  very  muscular,  but  not 
too  thick,  slightly  arched,  free  from  all  tendency  to  throat- 
iness. 

Body  should  be  proportionately  long,  shoulders  fine  at 
the  points,  deep,  and  sloping  well  back.  The  chest  deep, 
rather  narrow  in  front.  The  ribs  well  sprung,  leaving 
plenty  of  lung-room.  The  loins  muscular  and  slightly 
arched.  The  hind  quarters  wide  and  powerful. 

Legs  and  feet. — The  hind  legs  from  hip  to  hock  should 
be  long  and  muscular,  from  hock  to  heel  short  and  strong. 
The  stifle  and  hock  joints  well  bent,  and  not  inclined  either 
in  or  out.  The  fore  legs  should  be  strong  and  sinewy,  hav- 
ing plenty  of  bone,  with  elbows  free,  well  let  down,  and  like 
the  hock,  not  inclined  either  out  or  in.  '  The  feet  rather 
small,  very  firm;  toes  strong,  close  together,  and  arched. 

Tail  should  be  of  moderate  length,  set  on  rather  low, 
strong  at  root,  and  tapering  to  a  fine  point;  to  be  carried  in 
a  slight  scimiter-like  curve  or  straight,  nearly  level  with 
the  back. 

Coat,  on  the  head,  front  of  legs,  and  tips  of  ears,  should 
be  short  and  fine,  but  on  all  other  parts  of  the  body  it 
should  be  of  moderate  length,  flat,  and  as  free  as  possible 
from  curl  or  wave. 

Feathering.—  The  feather  on  the  upper  portion  of  the 
ears  should  be  long  and  silky,  on  the  back  of  fore  and  hind 
legs  long  and  fine,  a  fair  amount  of  hair  on  belly,  forming 
a  nice  fringe,  which  may  extend  on  chest  and  throat.  Feet 
to  be  well  feathered  between  the  toes.  Tail  to  have  a  nice 


THE  IRISH    SETTER.  55 

fringe  of  moderately  long  hair,  decreasing  in  length  as  it 
approaches  the  point.  All  feathering  to  be  as  straight  and 
as  flat  as  possible. 

Color  and  markings. — The  color  should  be  a  rich,  golden 
chestnut  or  mahogany  red,  with  no  trace  whatever  of  black; 
white  on  chest,  throat,  or  toes,  or  a  small  star  on  the  fore- 
head, or  a  narrow  streak  or  blaze  on  the  nose  or  face,  not 
to  disqualify. 

NOTES    ON   OUR   DOGS. 

In  head  we  have  not  enough  uniformity,  some  dogs  show- 
ing the  long,  narrow  head,  without  the  proper  stop  at  the 
eyebrow,  giving  the  face  an  indescribably  brainless  expres- 
sion; while  others  have  the  wide  and  round  skull,  entirely 
at  variance  with  the  standard.  The  color  of  eye  seems  to  be 
a  matter  of  the  strain,  some  specimens  having  the  beautiful 
dark-brown  eye,  while  others  are  of  a  hazel,  or  even  near  a 
dark-oak  shade.  These  are  minor  points,  and  I  consider 
none  but  the  gooseberry  eye  seriously  objectionable.  The 
ears  are  often  badly  set,  folding  back  and  outward,  and  in 
this  case  generally  too  short;  again,  many  are  Hound- 
like,  thick,  and  too  long  (relative  of  the  Bloodhound). 
Rarely  do  we  find  a  perfect  neck  in  our  present  Red  Setter, 
and  in  most  specimens  it  is  too  short  and  thick,  the  head 
resting  almost  on  the  shoulder-blades;  we  must  improve  in 
this  point. 

In  body,  legs,  and  feet,  our  Setters  are,  as  a  class,  I 
believe,  more  perfect  than  most  other  breeds  of  dogs,  having 
a  deep  chest,  strong  loin,  more  arched  than  the  English 
Setter,  and  a  good  development  of  muscle  in  the  limbs. 
Demerits  in  these  parts  we  must  carefully  weed  out  in 
breeding;  and  we  have  a  long  way  yet  to  go  to  reach  per- 
fection. The  Red  Setter  is  supposed  to  be  higher  on  the 
leg  than  either  the  English  or  Black  and  Tan,  and  I  think  it 
rather  an  advantage  to  leave  him  so,  for  the  best  develop- 
ment of  speed;  yet  I  am  not  favoring  a  "  big  dog,"  for  we 
want  no  lumber,  but  a  good,  upstanding  Setter,  with  per- 
fect slope  of  shoulder,  well-bent  stifle — and  the  longer  the 
bone  between  stifle  and  hock,  the  better  for  speed. 


56  THE  AMERICAN   BOOK   OF  THE   DOG. 

In  raising  the  scale  of  points  for  a  good  tail,  we  seem  to 
have  laid  the  stumbling-block  of  our  present  standard;  for 
it  does  not  suit  the  bad  ones.  This  change  has  been  made 
deliberately,  and  the  committee  in  charge  is  willing  to  stand 
or  fall  thereby.  We  point  to  some  of  our  best  specimens 
of  the  breed  to  illustrate  the  necessity  of  it.  At  most 
of  our  bench  shows  we  find  specimens  with  tails  carried 
either  Hound-like  over  the  back,  or  worse  still,  hanging  New- 
foundland-fashion, with  a  great,  big  hook,  carried  between 
the  legs.  Is  not  the  stern  of  any  bird-dog  the  very  soul  of 
his  style  ?  And  it  is  this  very  style  we  need  so  much  more  of 
in  our  red  dogs.  Is  it  possible  to  call  the  carriage  of  a  calf 
a  point  ?  I  have  seen  Irish  Setters  that  none  but  their  owner 
could  tell  when  they  were  pointing.  We  must  make  sweep- 
ing reforms  in  this  respect  through  careful  breeding;  for  it 
is  this  very  lack  of  style  that  condemns  the  red  dog  at  our 
field  trials,  and  with  perfect  justice.  A  lack  of  style  may  do 
for  the  pot-hunter  arid  novice,  but  to  the  true  sportsman 
and  breeder  it  is  an  abomination.  We  can  only  improve 
by  knowing  where  to  do  it  and  by  acknowledging  our 
defects. 

In  color  we  are  ahead  of  any  breed  of  dogs  on  this  globe; 
for  the  rich,  dark-mahogany  and  golden-chestnut  coat  of 
our  favorites  is  beauty  itself,  and  it  shows  the  superiority 
and  purity  of  breeding  over  that  of  any  other  sporting  dog 
known,  because  the  Irish  Red  is  red — plenty  of  it  and  every 
time — no  matter  how  you  breed  them.  You  may  get  some 
very  green  ones,  but  they  will  look  red  nevertheless.  I  have 
had  no  little  fun  with  a  friend,  a  lover  of  the  English  Setter, 
who  is  a  great  admirer  of  the  blue-ticked  color,  arid  the 
owner  of  as  grand  a  field  dog  as  ever  lived,  of  this  color.  He 
wishes  to  raise  some  blue-ticked  stock,  and  to  do  so,  has 
bred  his  bitch  to  about  all  the  celebrities  of  the  breed;  yet 
his  ardent  hopes  are  not  yet  gratified,  and  his  bitch  throws 
any  color  of  pups,  from  to  green  white,  all  black,  lemon  and 
white,  orange,  red  and  white,  and  what  he  calls  blue,  but 
not  the  blue  he  is  after.  I  advised  him  to  try  the  Red  cross, 
but  he  is  down  on  any  other  color  than  the  one  he  can't  get. 


THE   IRISH   SETTER.  57 

I  am  digressing  from  the  subject;  yet  this  incident  serves  to 
show  the  difference  in  the  reliability  of  the  two  breeds,  to 
the  advantage  of  the  Irishman. 

We  find  two  shades  of  red  in  this  breed,  the  dark  and 
the  light,  the  modern  fashion  favoring  the  former.  The 
presence  of  white  has  already  been  spoken  of.  It  is  no 
fault  or  blemish. 

In  coat  texture  we  also  find  a  variety,  both,  no  doubt, 
being  all  right,  and  a  peculiarity  of  the  strain — the  one 
short  on  body,  rather  harsh,  is  frequently  the  darker,  while 
the  light  shade  is  longer,  Spaniel-like,  having  a  sort  of 
undercoat;  and  this  seems  to  me  the  more  useful  one  for  the 
purpose,  giving  the  better  protection  from  wet  and  cold. 
It  is  this  kind  that  is  so  apt  to  become  wavy  when  exposed 
to  the  hardships  of  the  field;  the  very  thing  that  handicaps 
them  at  the  shows,  which,  in  this  breed  more  than  in  any 
other  of  the  sporting  breeds,  have  actually  been  detri- 
mental to  the  breed,  in  placing  before  any  other  quality 
that  beauty  of  color  and  gloss  of  coat  of  the  mahogany 
red. 

In  speaking  in  this  manner  of  bench  shows,  I  do  not 
mean  to  condemn  these  institutions;  for  they  are  useful,  and 
to  the  owners  and  trainers  very  entertaining,  if  to  the  dogs 
a  torture.  They  are  a  sort  of  necessary  evil.  No  event  of 
the  year  equals  in  interest  one  of  our  larger  shows,  where 
all  the  men  interested  in  dogs  seem  to  gather  for  a  sort  of 
love-feast;  and  extreme  good-fellowship  usually  prevails, 
especially  among  those  who  are  favored  by  the  blue,  while 
the  disappointed  ones  each  find  some  grand,  good  quality 
in  his  dog,  somewhere,  which  the  judge  had  overlooked, 
but  which  they  are  bound  all  shall  recognize  with  them. 
Animosity  is  wiped  out,  and  new  friendships  are  sealed, 
around  the  corner,  if  it  takes  all  day  and  a  few  hours  of  the 
next  day.  East  and  West,  North  and  South,  all  are  happy 
alike;  the  St.  Bernard  man  was  never  known  to  leave  his 
row,  while  the  Bulldog  man  looks  with  utter  contempt 
on  any  breed  that  can't  fight.  The  Pointer  man  blows 
a  bit  more  than  the  rest,  and  the  English  Setter  man  feels 


58  THE   AMERICAN   BOOK    OF   THE   DOG. 

above  them'  all.  The  Irish  lad  is  found  at  the  front  some- 
times, and  tries  to  hold  his  own,  while  the  rest  all  talk 
together  at  once.  For  my  part,  I  would  not  miss  the  New 
York  show  if  I  had  to  walk  a  hundred  miles  to  see  it,  but 
am  as  much  of  a  mystery  to  myself  when  it  is  over  as  if  I 
had  never  seen  it;  for  I,  too,  never  see  anything  there  but 
the  Red  Setter — and  the  boys,  old  and  young — and  find 
myself  more  fascinated  there  than  when  I  took  my  first 
premium  at  the  Philadelphia  Centennial  show  with  an  Irish 
Red. 

What  changes  in  the  Irish  Setter  and  their  owners  since 
then !  I  really  think  I  am  the  oldest  exhibitor  of  these 
dogs,  and  almost  the  only  one  still  interested  in  the  breed 
of  those  who  used  to  show  them  at  that  time.  I  have  seen 
all  the  celebrities  of  the  bench — Rufus,  Elcho,  Rory  O'More, 
Rose,  Flora,  Noreen,  Plunket,  Berkley,  Glencho,  Lady 
Clare,  Trix,  Hazel,  etc. — besides  all  the  many  fine  ones  that 
never  got  there,  up  to  the  present  day.  Speaking  of  the 
champions  then  and  now,  I  fail  to  see  a  very  great  improve- 
ment in  the  dogs.  In  the  bitches  we  are  going  backward ; 
while  in  our  present  open-show  classes  the  average  is  very 
much  improved  over  those  of  ten  years  ago,  with  prospects 
for  improvement  still  further. 

A  few  years  ago  the  Irish  Setter  Club  was  formed,  a 
good  start  made  for  a  field  trial  at  Salisbury,  N.  C., 
with  twenty-two  entries;  it  snowed  on  the  night  before  the 
start.  It  proved  a  hard  blow  to  the  Irish  Setter,  for  nearly 
all  of  us  got  discouraged.  At  the  last  New  York  (1890) 
show,  some  of  the  old  hands  rallied,  young  blood  was 
stirred  in,  and  we  now  hope  for  a  brighter  future,  and  ask 
all  lovers  of  the  breed  to  join  that  club,  whose  aim  will  be 
to  make  as  good  a  field  dog  of  the  Irish  Red  as  he  is  hand- 
some. And  now  that  you  have  finished  reading  this,  you 
may  as  well  send  your  application  for  membership  to  the 
secretary  of  the  Irish  Setter  Club. 

MAX  WENZEL. 

HOBOKEN,  N.  J. 


THE   IRISH   SETTER.  59 

The  origin  of  the  Irish  Setter,  like  that  of  his  cousins, 
the  English  and  the  Gordon  Setter,  is  buried  in  obscurity; 
and  no  additional  light  is  likely  to  illuminate  the  past  for 
the  inquiring  mind. 

Careful  research  and  extensive  inquiry  among  the  breed- 
ers and  fanciers  of  the  Irish  Setter  in  England  and  Ireland, 
have  failed  to  elicit  any  new  facts  concerning  the  origin  and 
development  of  this  breed. 

It  has  been  suggested  that  he  is  a  descendant  of  the 
liver-colored  setting  dog.  "As  a  matter  of  fact,"  says 
Vero  Shaw,  "the  earliest  mention  that  we  have  been  able 
to  discover  of  any  Setter,  peculiar  to  Ireland,  is  in  the 
Sportsman's  Cabinet,  where,  in  the  chapter  on  English 
Setters,  direct  allusion  is  made  to  this  breed  of  dogs  in  the 
following  words:  '  The  sporting  gentlemen  of  Ireland  are 
more  partial  to  Setters  than  to  Pointers,  and  they  are  prob- 
ably better  adapted  to  that  country."  This  seems  to  indi- 
cate that  Setters  of  some  kind  were  used  on  the  Emerald 
Isle  at  the  beginning  of  this  century.  It  must  always  be  a 
matter  of  regret  that  nothing  was  said  by  the  writer  in 
question,  or  by  other  chroniclers  of  his  time,  of  the  appear- 
ance of  these  dogs. 

However,  coming  down  to  the  time  when  the  red  dog 
first  began  to  attract  attention  in  England,  his  admirers 
were  divided  on  the  color  line,  some  breeders  claiming  that 
red,  without  any  admixture  of  white,  was  the  proper  color, 
while  others,  with  equal  fervor,  insisted  that  the  red  dog 
with  white  points  was  just  as  proper  and  pure  an  Irish  Set- 
ter as  the  all-red  dog. 

There  can  be  no  doubt  that  both  are  descended  from  the 
same  parent  stock,  and  have,  in  later  years,  been  inter- 
bred, so  that  it  is  no  uncommon  occurrence  to  see,  in  a 
litter  of  Irish  Setter  puppies,  several  with  white  markings 
on  face,  breast,  and  feet. 

In  the  subjoined  letter,  just  received  from  Rev.  Robert 
O'Callaghan,  the  most  successful  breeder  of  Irish  Setters  in 
England,  and  probably  the  best  living  authority  on  this 
breed  in  the  world,  conclusions  similar  to  my  own  are 


60  THE  AMERICAN   BOOK   OF   THE   DOG. 

accurately  and  fully  set  forth  as  to  the  origin  of  the  breed 
and  the  development  of  the  color: 

"BOSTEL  HOUSE,  ROCHESTER,  England. 
"  To  B.  F.  SEITOER,  Dayton,  Ohio,  U.  S.  A. 

"Dear  Sir:  In  reply  to  your  request  for  some  notes  as  to 
the  origin  and  development  of  the  Irish  Setter,  I  do  not 
find  anything  like  reliable  information  on  this  subject 
earlier  than  the  present  century.  I  have  no  hesitation  in 
stating  my  belief  that  the  Irish  Setter  is  the  oldest  breed 
we  possess,  as  well  as  the  purest;  but  if,  as  is  generally 
allowed,  the  history  of  all  Setters  be  obscure  and  difficult 
to  trace,  how  much  more  so  the  history  of  the  Irish  !  The 
reasons  are  obvious;  but  I  will  not  enter  into  this  ques- 
tion, and  will  only  say  that  after  careful  and  diligent  study 
of  the  subject,  I  feel  compelled  to  give  my  adhesion  to  the 
now  generally  received  opinion,  that  all  Setters  are  descend- 
ants from  the  Spaniel.  We  have  it  recorded  in  the  Sports- 
man's Repository,  1820,  that  Setters  in  Ireland  used  to  be 
called  '  Setting  Spaniels.'  Now,  it  is  difficult  to  explain 
how  our  modern  Setters  were  produced.  I  believe,  with 
Darwin,  in  Nature  giving  us  successive  variations,  and  man 
adding  up  these  variations  in  a  certain  direction  useful  to 
himself,  and  thus  making  for  himself  useful  breeds.  If, 
then,  we  want  a  special  quality  in  any  animal,  we  have 
only  to  watch  carefully  and  breed  sufficiently,  and  the  re- 
quired variety  is  sure  to  be  produced,  and  can  be  increased 
to  any  extent.  Wallace  says:  '  Instinct,  speed,  form,  and 
color  have  always  varied  so  as  to  produce  the  very  races 
which  the  wants  or  fancies  of  men  led  them  to  desire.' 

"  In  a  word,  he  looks  upon  natural  or  artificial  selection 
as  the  simple  basis  for  indefinite  modification  of  the  forms 
of  life.  With  the  opinions  of  two  such  authorities  before 
us,  as  well  as  our  own  experience  of  what  can  and  what 
has  been  done  in  the  way  of  breeding,  I  do  not  think  there 
need  be  much  doubt  as  to  the  origin  of  the  Setter.  The 
Irish  have  always  been  a  sporting  race,  and  no  doubt  they 
paid  great  attention  to  their  Setting  Spaniels.  Being 


THE   IKISH   SETTER.  61 

required  for  hard  work,  they  would  select  the  animal  best 
suited  for  that  purpose;  and  the  breeding  of  successive  gen- 
erations of  animals  capable  of  hunting  the  wet  bogs  and 
mountains  of  Ireland  has  resulted  in  building  up  a  race 
which  may  be  equaled,  but  certainly  can  not  be  excelled,  by 
any  sporting  dog  in  the  world;  and  so  carefully  and 
jealously  were  they  preserved,  and  so  highly  were  they 
prized,  that  we  are  told  by  a  writer  (I.  Scott)  in  the  Sports- 
man' s  Cabinet  of  1823  of  the  renewal  of  a  lease  given  for  a 
dog  and  bitch,  which  lease,  if  allowed  to  expire,  would 
have  cleared  for  the  landlord  £250  per  annum. 

"As  to  their  color,  this  same  writer  tells  us  that  it  was 
all  red,  or  deep  chestnut  and  white.  No  doubt  this  all  red 
was  obtained  by  careful  selection,  with  an  evident  purpose 
to  subserve  a  useful  end,  by  Irish  sportsmen,  and  that 
long  before  the  days  of  fire-arms  this  exquisitely  deep 
chestnut,  so  characteristic  of  the  breed,  may  have  been,  and 
no  doubt  was  suggested  to  our  rude  forefathers  by  the  color 
of  the  red  deer  of  their  native  hills  and  forests — a  color 
which  harmonized  so  well  with  the  hues  of  the  decaying 
bracken  and  the  purple  heather  as  to  aid  in  concealing  him 
from  his  enemies.  However  this  may  be,  the  deep  dark  red 
of  the  Irish  Setter  would  have  the  advantage  of  enabling 
him  to  approach  closer  to  his  game — in  fact,  would  make 
him  almost  invisible,  and  so  all  the  more  capable  of  serving 
his  master's  ends;  and  if  this  be  an  advantage  in  the  present 
day,  as  it  undoubtedly  is,  how  much  greater  must  have 
been  the  advantage  in  the  days  of  our  sturdy  sires,  whose 
rude  weapons  necessitated  a  closer  approach  to  their  game. 

" A  well-known  writer  of  our  day  recognizes  the  advan- 
tage of  protective  colors  in  the  sportsman's  dress,  and 
advises  him,  when  he  expects  the  birds  to  be  wild,  to  adopt 
garments  of  a  somber  hue,  avoiding  conspicuous  colors. 
Stonehenge  says:  '  Because  of  the  wariness  of  the  grouse, 
the  color  of  the  clothes  should  be  attended  to.'  He  recom- 
mends the  heather  pattern,  from  its  resemblance  to  the 
general  covert  of  the  birds.  Under  all  these  circumstances, 
I  think  we  can  have  no  difficulty  in  tracing  the  origin  and 


62  THE  AMERICAN   BOOK   OF   THE   DOG. 

distinctive  color  of  the  Irish  Red  Setter.  Many  Irish  fam- 
ilies were  celebrated  for  rare  strains  of  the  breed — among 
them  the  0' Conner,  or  La  Touche,  the  De  Freyne,  or  French 
Park,  the  Lord  Dillons,  Waterford,  and  Lismore;  the  latter 
the  head  of  the  O1  Callaghan  family. 

"  But  where  are  all  these  kennels  now?  Echo  answers— 
where?  Owing  to  the  ruinous  prodigality  and  thriftless 
extravagance  of  the  Irish  squires  of  the  past  century,  as 
well  as  the  successive  convulsions  which  have  rent  unhappy 
Ireland,  its  noble  race  of  Setters  has  been  scattered  to  the 
winds — neglected  and  uncared  for;  and  at  this  moment,  I 
know  of  no  kennel  of  the  pure  race  in  the  country.  Shows 
have  done  little,  if  anything,  to  improve  the  breed.  The 
quantity  has  increased,  but  not  the  quality.  The  true  type 
is  lost  sight  of,  because  the  breed  is  not  kept  up  by  practical 
sportsmen,  or  even  by  men  who  can  lay  the  slightest  claim 
to  a  correct  knowledge  of  the  breed,  but  by  those  whose 
only  aim  is  to  make  money.  The  consequence  of  this  is 
that  our  shows  are  full  of  snipy,  weedy  mongrels,  which, 
save  in  color,  and  that  only  sometimes,  are  as  unlike  the 
wiry,  racy,  blood-like  Irishmen  as  they  well  can  be. 

"It  is  to  this  fact,  too,  that  we  must  attribute  the  bad 
name  given  to  Irish  Setters — as  being  headstrong  and 
difficult  to  train.  How  can  it  be  otherwise?  Show  animals 
bred  anyhow,  and  from  untrained  parents,  are  foisted  on 
the  public.  If  the  setting  instinct  be  undeveloped  from 
generation  to  generation,  reversion  to  type  will  be  the  con- 
sequence, and  in  each  successive  generation  it  will  become 
beautifully  less.  I  notice  in  America  the  same  state  of 
things  goes  on.  While  large  sums  of  money  are  expended 
in  purchasing  the  best  types  of  English  Setters,  from  the 
best  breeders,  Irish  Setters,  so-called,  are  purchased  hap- 
hazard, from  what  I  call  mushroom  breeders,  because 
they  are  cheap.  And  thus  a  race  of  Setters  is  perpetuated 
which  are  a  libel  on  the  breed,  and  so  widely  different  from 
the  true  type  as  the  north  is  from  the  south. 

"  What  else  can  one  expect  from  promiscuous  and  inju- 
dicious crossing?  How  is  this  state  of  things  to  be  remedied? 


THE   IRISH    SETTEE.  63 

Only  by  careful  and  scientific  breeding;  any  remnants  of 
old  families  carefully  and  judiciously  bred  to  would,  beyond 
a  doubt,  bring  back  the  family  type  and  characteristics.  I 
claim  to  speak  with  authority  on  this  subject,  as  I  have 
bred,  broken,  and  shot  over  them  for  a  space  of  forty  years; 
in  fact,  I  was  born  and  brought  up  with  them.  They  have 
been  the  playmates  and  companions  of  my  children,  and 
are  part  and  parcel  of  my  family.  The  first  of  my  dogs 
was  exhibited  in  1868,  when  Grouse,  brother  to  Plunket, 
was  successful  on  the  bench. 

"Plunket's  success  as  a  field-trial  winner  is  well  known; 
his  brother  Rover  was  chosen  by  Stonehenge  to  represent 
the  true  type  of  an  Irish  Setter,  and  my  Grouse  II., 
winner  of  the  fifteen-guinea  Challenge  Cup,  Dublin,  1879, 
was  chosen  to  represent  the  breed  in  the  '  Book  of  the  Dog,' 
by  Vero  Shaw.  Absence  from  England  in  the  service  of  my 
country  prevented  me  from  doing  more  than  carefully  pre- 
serving my  stock;  but  since  my  return  home,  my  success 
on  the  show  bench  has  been  unbroken.  As  to  success  in 
the  field,  I  am  to  a  large  extent  handicapped,  as  I  have 
no  trainer  of  my  own,  and  have  to  depend  entirely  upon 
trainers  who  either  have  their  own  interests  to  serve,  to 
which  mine  are  secondary,  or  else  they  are  quite  incom- 
petent. 

"Even  under  circumstances  such  as  these,  however,  I 
undoubtedly  put  the  best  Setter — I  may  say,  indeed,  the 
best  as  well  as  the  handsomest  sporting  dog — in  the  field 
in  1885 — Aveline;  and,  I  say  it  advisedly,  she  was  not 
allowed  to  win  first  in  that  contest.  Aveline  met  and 
defeated  three  of  the  Llewellin  Setters,  and  her  final  heat 
was  decided  in  three  and  a  half  minutes!  Aveline,  now  a 
champion,  is  a  daughter  of  Frisco  and  Grouse  II.;  and 
as  you  have  asked  me  as  to  the  most  successful  cross,  I 
have  no  hesitation  in  saying  that  I  have  found  the  Elcho 
blood,  crossed  on  the  Palmerston,  to  be  the  most  success- 
ful, both  in  field  and  on  bench.  I  say  pure  Palmerston, 
because  it  has  come  to  my  knowledge  that  Palmerston  is 
credited  with  having  served  more  bitches  than  he  ever 


64  THE  AMERICAN   BOOK    OF   THE   DOG. 

did,  or  in  fact  could  have  served.  This  is  why  Frisco, 
grandson  to  Elcho,  has  not  been  successful  as  a  sire  with 
mongrel  bitches,  while  matched  with  a  pure  Palmerston,  the 
produce  is  all  that  can  be  desired.  I  possess  at  this 
moment  two  sons  of  Frisco  and  Grouse  II. — Shandon  II. 
and  Fingal  III. — and  the  daughter  Aveline.  All  are  bench 
winners  at  the  largest  shows,  as  well  as  grand  in  the  field; 
and  one  has  but  to  see  them  to  feel  at  once  that  he  looks 
on  thorough-breds  of  their  species. 

"  Desmond  II.,  belonging  to  Mr.  C.  T.  Thompson,  of  Phil- 
adelphia, bred  by  me,  and  winner  of  field  trials  at  Philadel- 
phia, is  of  precisely  the  same  blood.  This  same  cross  it  is 
that  has  produced  so  many  bench  and  field-trial  winners  for 
'Claremont'  (Doctor  Jarvis,  of  New  Hampshire).  .  .  . 
I  have  still  living,  and  quite  good  f  or  *  stud  purposes,  my 
Champion  Ganymede.  He  is  the  sire  of  Champion  Ty- 
rone, Kildare,  and  Geraldine,  besides  many  others,  and 
the  best  type  of  Irish  Setter  now  living,  to  my  mind. 
Geraldine  II.  is  granddaughter  to  Ganymede  and  Frisco. 

"I  fear  I  have  already  written  too  much  anent  my 
favorites,  but  I  am  sure,  under  the  circumstances,  you  will 
excuse  me.  <  <  ROBERT  O'  CALLAGHAN.  ' ' 

Both  Stonehenge  and  Vero  Shaw  record  the  following 
as  the  most  noteworthy  of  the  old  strains  from  which  the 
present  race  of  Irish  Setters  is  descended:  Among  val- 
uable strains  of  the  Irish  Setter  are  the  O'  Conner,  better 
known  as  the  La  Touche,  made  famous  through  Cham- 
pion Palmerston;  Lord  Dillons,  Lord  de  Freyne's,  also 
called  the  French  Park  breed;  Lord  Lismore's,  Lord  Clan- 
carty's,  the  Mount  Hedges,  Lord  Rossmore's,  and  the  Mar- 
quis of  Waterford's.  In  modern  days,  Doctor  Stone,  Major 
Hutchinson,  Captain  Cooper,  Captain  French,  H.  B.  Knox, 
Hon.  D.  Plunket,  Captain  Alleway,  Mr.  Hilliard,  Mr. 
Lipscombe,  Mr.  O'Brien,  and  Miss  Warburton;  and  I  must 
include,  last,  although  by  no  means  least,  Rev.  Robert 
O'Callaghan.  All  have  won  bench-show  honors  with  their 
dogs,  but  only  Mr.  Plunket,  and  later  Rev.  O'Callaghan, 


THE   IEISH    SETTEE.  65 

have  won  field-trial  honors  with  their  strains.  Mr.  Plunket, 
by  the  way,  won  with  a  dog  (Plunket)  bred  by  the  Rev. 
O'Callaghan.  The  high  quality  of  the  latter  gentleman's 
dogs  was  recognized  in  the  most  emphatic  manner  by  the 
highest  authorities  in  the  canine  world.  Stonehenge  chose 
as  a  subject  for  illustrating  his  article  on  the  Irish  Setter,  in 
his  book  the  "Dogs  of  the  British  Isles,"  fourth  edition, 
Rover,  a  prize-winner,  and  brother  to  the  well-known 
field-trial  winner,  Plunket;  and  Vero  Shaw  chose  from  the 
same  kennel,  as  an  illustration  for  his  "Book  of  the  Dog,1' 
Grouse  II.;  these  being  the  most  typical  specimens  of 
the  breed  in  their  day. 

When  the  Irish  Setter  first  became  popular  in  England 
and  America,  rapid  progress  was  made  in  the  improvement 
of  the  breed;  and  such  grand  dogs  as  Rev.  O' Callaghan' s 
Grouse,  his  great  brother,  the  field-trial  winner,  Plunket, 
Champion  Palmerston,  Rufus,  the  celebrated  Elcho,  and 
Thornstine  delighted  the  public  and  became  pillars  of  the 
Stud  Book.  In  the  history  of  the  introduction  and  develop- 
ment of  the  Irish  Setter  in  America,  an  interesting  study 
is  presented  to  the  breeder  and  sportsman;  and  to  such 
gentlemen  as  the  late  Arnold  Burges,  Mr.  E.  F.  Stoddard, 
of  Dayton,  Ohio;  Dr.  William  Jarvis,  of  Claremont,  N.  H.; 
Charles  Turner,  of  St.  Louis,  and  others,  whose  liberality 
and  wisdom  placed  the  best  Irish  Setter  blood  in  the  world 
within  their  reach,  the  American  sportsmen  are  under  last- 
ing obligations. 

The  place  of  honor  as  the  foremost  American  breeder  of 
this  grand  strain  of  dogs  justly  belongs  to  Doctor  Jarvis. 
He  it  was  who,  by  breeding  Rose  to  Elcho,  discovered 
the  wonderful  affinity  of  the  Elcho  for  the  Palmerston 
blood.  His  career,  however,  as  a  breeder  began  before 
Elcho  had  been  heard  of;  for  in  1873  he  brought  out  a 
dog  popularly  known  as  Jarvis'  Dick,  whose  portrait  was 
published  in  the  old  American  Sportsman  and  Forest 
and  Stream.  He  was  of  unknown  parentage;  his  sire 
and  dam,  it  is  said,  were  imported,  but  beyond  that  noth- 
ing was  known  of  them.  He  won  the  silver  cup  for  best 


THE  AMERICAN   BOOK   OF   THE  DOG. 

Irish  Setter  at  the  Rod  and  Gun  Club  Show  at  Springfield, 
Mass. 

Doctor  Jarvis  then  imported  from  the  kennels  of  Mr. 
Llewellin  a  bitch  called  Kitty,  a  daughter  of  the  famous 
field-trial  winner  Plunket.  In  the  fall  of  1875,  he  imported 


ELCHO. 
Owned  by  Dr.  William  Jarvis. 

from     Ireland  the    bitch   Kathleen,    a  granddaughter  of 
Hutchinson's  well-known  Bob. 

About  this  time,  also,  Dr.  M.  Goldsmith,  of  Rutland, 
Vermont,  imported  the  famous  dog  Champion  Plunket; 
Arnold  B urges  his  Rufus,  and  Mr.  E.  F.  Stoddard,  Friend. 
In  August  of  this  year,  Friend  whelped  a  litter  to  Rufus, 
several  of  which  the  following  year  made  their  mark  at  the 
Centennial  Show.  They  were  Rufus  II.  and  Fire-fiy.  The 


THE  IRISH   SETTEE.  67 

St.  Louis  Kennel  Club,  or  Mr.  Charles  Turner,  of  that 
organization,  imported  and  brought  out  Champion  Lou  II., 
Erin,  Elcho,  Berkley,  and  others.  Mr.  Stoddard,  in  1876, 
imported  Champion  Duck  and  Bob.  In  the  spring  of  1877, 
Doctor  Jarvis  purchased  from  Mr.  Turner,  of  the  St.  Louis 
Kennel  Club,  Elcho,  and  thereby  secured  for  his  kennel  the 
best  Irish  Setter  dog  in  the  country. 

In  the  fall  of  the  same  year,  he  imported  from  the 
kennels  of  Mr.  Cecil  Moore  the  now  famous  bitch  Rose,  the 
beautiful  daughter  of  the  great  Palmerston  out  of  Flora. 
Rose  was  the  first  of  the  Palmerston  blood  brought  to 
America,  and  her  record  stands  to-day  unrivaled  by  that  of 
any  other  Setter  bitch.  Rose  bred  to  Elcho,  produced  in 
her  first  litter  the  well-known  Lady  Clare,  the  field -trial 
and  show  winners  Raleigh  and  Laura.  Leigh  Doane,  Little 
Nell,  Yoube,  Champion  Norwood,  and  Elcho  III.  are  also 
among  the  descendants  of  this  famous  pair. 

Doctor  Jarvis  next  imported,  from  the  kennels  of  Mr. 
J.  J.  Giltrap,  Noreen,  a  daughter  of  Garryowen,  a  noted 
prize-winner.  She  too  was  bred  to  Elcho.  Great  as  had 
been  the  Doctor's  success  with  Rose  and  her  progeny,  he 
not  only  equaled  but  fairly  eclipsed  it  with  ISToreen,  for 
she  produced  four  champions  in  one  litter — one  of  the  four, 
Bruce,  a  field-trial  winner,  Glencho,  Noreen  II.,  and  Elcho, 
Junior.  Here  are  four  dogs  that  have,  individually  and 
collectively,  won  more  prizes,  and  have  produced  and  got  a 
larger  number  of  winners,  than  any  other  equal  number  of 
Setters  in  America.  Elcho,  Junior,  is  unquestionably  the 
best  representative  of  his  race  ever  seen  in  this  country. 

Next  to  these  justly  ranks  Stoddard' s  Friend.  Mr. 
Stoddard' s  memory  will  always  be  cherished  by  the  lovers 
of  the  Irish  Setter  for  his  intelligent  and  successful  efforts 
in  developing  the  breed,  and  compelling  public  admiration 
and  recognition  of  his  merits.  Friend  herself  was  a  grand 
bitch  in  the  field.  While  not  as  fast  as  some  others  I  have 
seen,  she  yet  proved  good  enough  to  win  first  prize  at  the 
Minnesota  field  trials  of  1878,  in  a  field  of  thirteen  starters. 
The  Chicago  Field's  report  of  that  event  states  that  Friend 


68 


THE  AMERICAN    BOOK   OF  THE  DOG. 


ran  out  her  score  without  making  a  single  error.  Bred  to 
Rufus,  she  produced  the  Centennial  winner  Rufus  II., 
Fire-fly,  Champion  Rory  O'More,  and  others.  Mr.  Stoddard 
also  bred  some  good  ones  from  Champion  Duck,  by  his 
Bob.  He  was  also  the  breeder  of  that  grand  young,  and 
now  well-known  dog,  Mack  N.,  owned  by  Mr.  W.  N. 
Kuhns,  of  Dayton,  Ohio. 

There  are  other  breeders  that  deserve  mention.     Fore- 
most among  these  are  Mr.  Max  Wenzel,  of  Hoboken,  N.  J., 


ELCHO,  JUNIOR. 
Owned  by  Dr.  William  Jarvis,  Claremont,  N.  H. 

owner  of  the  noted  field-trial  and  bench-show  winner  Cham- 
pion Chief,  by  Berkley,  out  of  Duck,  and  Tim,  also  a 
prize-winner,  by  the  field-trial  winner  Biz,  out  of  Hazel,  a 
daughter  of  Elcho,  out  of  Rose.  Mr.  W.  N.  Callender,  of 
Albany,  N.  Y.,  who  exhibited  Rory  O'More  at  the  New 
York  Show,  1877,  has  bred  a  number  of  good  ones,  and  Mr. 
Charles  T.  Thompson,  of  Philadelphia,  Penn.,  the  present 
owner  of  Desmond  II.,  blood  brother  to  Rev.  O'Callaghan's 
Shandon  II.  and  Fingal  III.,  and  the  field-trial  winner 


THE   IRISH   SETTER.  69 

Aveline,  by  Frisco,  out  of  Grouse  II.,  has  kept  well  to  the 
front  with  his  dogs. 

Elcho,  Junior,  is  one  of  the  most  noted  dogs  of  his  race. 
In  him  almost  the  extreme  limit  of  refinement  has  been 
reached,  and  breeders  can  scarcely  hope  to  excel  him  in 
finish;  his  almost  perfect  harmony  of  proportions  may 
hardly  be  surpassed.  His  service  should  be  sought  by  those 
having  Irish  Setter  bitches  of  the  large,  heavy-boned,  or 
short,  cobby  sort. 

His  pedigree  is  as  follows : 

ELCHO,  JUNIOR  (3881). 


3     Q        f     O  O 

§p3     8  §  3 


r 

w  3 


F*    .- 

& 


B 

111 


70  THE  AMERICAN   BOOK   OF  THE  DOG. 

His  winnings  are  as  follows : 

First,  puppy  class,  Boston,  1882;  first,  open  class,  Ot- 
tawa, 1883;  first,  open  class,  New  Haven,  1885;  first,  cham- 
pion class,  New  York,  1884;  first,  champion  class,  Montreal, 
1884;  first,  champion  class,  New  York,  1885;  first,  champion 
class,  Cincinnati,  1885;  first,  champion  class  (spring),  Phil- 
adelphia, 1885;  first,  champion  class,  South  Attleboro,  1885; 
first,  champion  class,  Boston,  1886;  first,  champion  class, 
Hartford,  1886;  first,  champion  class,  Cleveland,  1886;  first, 
champion  class,  New  York,  1886;  first,  champion  class,  St. 
Louis,  1886;  first,  champion  class,  Boston,  1887;  first,  cham- 
pion class,  Pittsburgh,  1887;  first,  champion  class,  New 
York,  1887;  first,  champion  class,  Detroit,  1887;  first,  cham- 
pion class,  Syracuse,  1888;  first,  challenge  class,  New  York, 
1889;  first,  challenge  class,  Troy,  1889;  champion  Irish  Set- 
ter, sweepstakes  of  America  and  cup,  and  special  for  best 
Irish  Setter,  New  York,  1884;  special  for  best  Setter  dog, 
any  breed,  Montreal,  1884;  special  for  best  Irish  Setter,  New 
York,  1885;  special  for  best  Irish  Setter  (spring),  Philadel- 
phia, 1885;  special  for  best  Setter  dog,  any  breed,  South 
Attleboro,  1885;  special  for  best  Irish  Setter  dog,  Boston, 
1886;  special  for  best  Irish  Setter  dog,  and  special  for  best 
Irish  Setter  dog  or  bitch,  Hartford,  1886;  special  for  best 
Irish  Setter,  Cleveland,  1886;  special  for  best  Irish  Setter, 
special  for  best  Irish  Setter  dog,  and  special  for  best  Setter 
dog  or  bitch,  any  breed,  New  York,  1886;  special  for  best 
Irish  Setter  dog,  and  special  for  best  Irish  Setter  dog  or 
bitch,  St.  Louis,  1886;  special  for  best  Irish  Setter,  and 
special  for  best  Irish  Setter  dog  or  bitch,  Boston,  1887; 
special  for  best  Irish  Setter,  and  special  for  best  Irish  Set- 
ter dog,  Pittsburgh,  1887;  special  for  best  champion  Irish 
Setter  dog,  special  for  best  Irish  Setter  dog,  and  special  for 
best  Irish  Setter  dog  or  bitch,  Detroit,  1887;  special  for  best 
Irish  Setter  dog,  Syracuse,  1888;  special  for  best  Irish  Set- 
ter dog,  Troy,  1889;  special,  with  Lorna,  for  best  pair  of 
Irish  Setters,  New  Haven,  1885;  special,  with  Lorna,  for 
best  pair  of  Irish  Setters,  Cleveland,  1886;  special,  with 
Lorna,  for  best  brace  of  Irish  Setters,  St.  Louis,  1886; 


THE   IRISH    SETTER.  71 

special  for  one  of  best  kermel,  Boston,  1886;  special  for 
one  of  best  kennel,  Hartford,  1886. 

The  most  successful  sires  of  the  past  and  present  are, 
about  in  the  order  named.  Champion  Elcho,  Plunket,  Rufus, 
the  great  Glencho,  Berkley,  Erin,  Elcho,  Junior,  Biz, 
Champion  Norwood,  MaxWenzeFs  Chief,  Rory  O'More, 
and  Stoddard's  Bob.  The  list  of  winnings  these  dogs  and 
their  descendants  have  to  their  credit  would  fill  a  book.  It 
might  be  profitable  to  some  of  the  breeders,  and,  would-be 
breeders,  of  the  present  day,  to  carefully  study  and  con- 
sider the  breeding  of  some  of  these  dogs;  for  in  this  breed, 
as  in  all  others,  there  is  wisdom  in  choosing  from  good 
families,  and  in  the  light  of  the  past  it  should  not  be  diffi- 
cult to  pick  out  the  successful  dogs. 

We  come  now  to  consider  the  Irish  Setter  as  a  field  dog. 
The  cardinal  points  on  which  depend  the  value  of  every 
pointing  dog  are  the  same  in  all  breeds,  and  I  can  not  do 
better  than  to  quote  from  one  of  England' s  highest  authori- 
ties, "Idstone,"  who  speaks  of  the  Irish  Setter  as  follows: 

"They  have  been  jealously  protected  from  mongrel  out- 
crosses  for  many  years  by  their  native  breeders,  and  they 
owe  their  popularity,  in  Ireland  and  elsewhere,  to  their 
quality  quite  as  much  as  their  color.  They  are  exceedingly 
fast,  and  very  resolute,  hardy,  and  thoroughly  blood-like, 
genuine  Setters.  A  finer,  more  open-hearted,  frank,  good- 
tempered  race,  no  man  can  find.  .  .  ; 

"  The  thorough  Irish  dog  is  a  very  fast  and  persevering 
worker  and  a  rapid  galloper.  .  .  .  An  admirable  water 
dog,  and  invaluable  in  fens  and  swamps,  for  snipe.  In 
heather,  his  power  and  muscle  enable  him  to  do  a  long 
day's  work  without  fatigue,  and  he  has  a  comparatively 
noiseless  and  stealthy  gallop.  He  is  inclined  to  be  head- 
strong, and  is  accused  of  being  hard  to  break.  He  demands 
patience,  severity,  and  judgment.  .  .  . 

' 4  When,  however,  he  settles  down  to  his  work,  and  dis- 
covers the  tactics  of  his  owner,  he  is  exceedingly  valuable, 
and  is  regarded  with  envy  by  all  who  witness  his  mathe- 
matical precision,  his  firm  style,  his  stanchness  and 


72  THE   AMERICAN   BOOK   OF  THE   DOG. 

patience,  coupled  with  his  docility,  which  is  not  excelled 
by  any  Pointer  or  Setter  of  any  breed." 

My  own  experience  and  observation  justifies  me  in 
asserting  that,  in  natural  adaptability,  speed,  range,  endur- 
ance, pointing  instinct,  and  bird-sense,  the  red  dog  is  not 
excelled  by  any  race  of  Setters  in  the  world.  Those  I  have 
seen  were  not  more  erratic,  headstrong,  or  difficult  to  con- 
trol than  other  dogs  of  high  courage;  and  when  properly 
trained  and  handled,  they  are  as  stanch  and  true  on  point 
and  back  as  any  Pointer.  Stoddard's  Friend  was  equally 
good  on  quail  and  snipe,  and  was  fond  of  hunting  prairie- 
chickens;  and  when  retrieving  one  of  those  big  birds,  she 
was  as  proud  of  the  capture  as  is  the  novice  when  he  brings 
down  his  first  bird. 

The  assertion  that  the  Irish  Setter  is  harder  to  break  or 
train,  and  keep  in  field  form,  than  other  breeds  of  Setters,  is 
not  true  of  the  Irish  Setter  of  to-day.  I  know,  from  per- 
sonal experience,  that  a  well-bred  dog  of  this  breed,  prop- 
erly brought  up  and  trained,  is  the  peer  of  any  Setter  in 
the  world.  As  companions,  they  are  affectionate,  gentle, 
and  safe  with  children  (I  never  saw  a  sour  or  ill-tempered 
dog  of  this  breed  in  my  life),  and  true  to  their  masters.  In 
the  field,  they  are  enthusiastic,  fast,  and  tireless  workers. 
One  of  the  best  Setters,  of  any  breed,  I  ever  saw  in  the  field 
is  Mack  ET.  This  dog  is  as  level-headed  as  any  Pointer;  a 
keen  hunter,  a  fast  and  wide  ranger,  quick  and  positive 
when  among  birds,  hunting  with  great  judgment  and  dis- 
crimination, and  heeding  the  slightest  whistle  or  command. 

I  have  not  seen  Elcho,  Junior,  in  the  field,  but  am  told  by 
those  who  have  that  he  is  an  out-and-out  good  one — indeed, 
Doctor  Jarvis  has  for  years  done  his  shooting  over  this  dog; 
and  to  judge  from  his  work  at  the  Eastern  field  trials, 
where  he  ran  in  1885,  although  not  placed,  he  is  able  to 
hold  his  own,  with  honor,  in  any  company.  I  know  that 
no  better  snipe-dog  than  Stoddard's  Bob  ever  lived. 

That  the  red  dog  is  lacking  in  no  characteristic  or 
faculty  that  is  necessary  in  the  make-up  of  the  perfect  field 
dog,  the  public  trials  have  abundantly  demonstrated.  As 


THE   IRISH   SETTER. 


73 


before  stated,  Friend  won  first  in  1878,  defeating,  among 
others,  the  well-known  field-trial  winner,  Sanborn's  Nellie. 
Joe,  Junior,  a  half -blooded  son  of  Champion  Elcho,  defeated 
the  great  and  almost  invincible  English  Setter,  Champion 
Gladstone,  every  time  they  met,  both  in  public  trials  and 
in  a  two-days  private  match;  then  Champion  Biz  defeated 
Count  Noble. 

In  1879,  Raleigh  won  second  in  the  Eastern  Field  Trials 
Club's  all-aged  stake.  An  Irish  Setter  won  the  members' 
cup  of  the  Eastern  Field  Trials  Club  in  1881  and  1884. 
That  more  Irish  Setters  are  not  run  in  the  field  trials  is 
not  because  of  any  inherent  fault  in  the  breed,  nor  has  the 
breed  deteriorated,  as  the  field  trials  have  demonstrated; 
for  wherever  an  Irish  Setter  competed  in  a  public  trial  he 
made  it  exceedingly  interesting  for  all  competitors.  Rev. 
O'Callaghan's  Aveline  is  a  good  illustration  of  the  capabili- 
ties of  the  red  dog  of  to-day,  as  is  also  Drogheda,  winner  of 
second  in  the  National  trials  at  Shrewsbury. 

B.  F.  SEITOER. 

DAYTON,  OHIO. 


THE  AMERICAN  GORDON  SETTER. 


BY  HARRY  MALCOLM, 

President  The  American  Gordon  Setter  Club. 


>HE  origin  of  this  famous  breed  of  Setters  dates  back 
eighty-nine  years  ago,  or  more,  to  the  Duke  of  Gor- 
don's Castle,  whence  its  great  fame  as  a  field  dog 
has  spread  far  and  wide.  It  was  from  the  Duke  of  Gordon 
that  our  favorite  derived  his  name;  and  but  for  this  noble- 
man we  should  never  have  known  or  been  able  to  perpetu- 
ate this  neplus  ultra  of  handsome  Setter  dogs. 

About  the  year  1859,  the  first  specimens  of  this  breed 
were  introduced  in  England,  and  were  there  called  the 
Black  and  Tan,  or  Gordon  Setter.  They  were  bred  and 
shown  in  England  of  immense  size,  and  were  entirely  too 
heavy  in  make  to  please  the  majority  of  English  sportsmen; 
and  but  for  the  old  stock  in  Scotland,  which  were  merry 
little  workers,  and  but  for  the  careful  breeding  of  some 
English  and  American  lovers  of  field  sports,  which  resulted 
in  getting  him  back  to  his  proper  size  for  practical  field 
form,  we  should  not  to-day  have  had  the  handsomest  and 
grandest  field  dog  it  has  ever  been  the  writer' s  good  fortune 
to  follow  afield,  day  in  and  day  out.  / 

Writing  of  the  show  bench  in  England,  Stonehenge  says, 
referring  to  Kent  (E.  K.  C.  S.  B.,  1600):  "His  grand  head 
and  rich  color  drew  general  attention  to  him,  taking  prize 
after  prize  at  Cremorne,  Birmingham  (four  times),  Islington 
(twice),  Worcester,  and  Paris.  His  extraordinary  career 
naturally  caused  a  great  amount  of  jealousy,  and  he  was 
called,  by  the  opposition  party,  a  'cur,'  a  'mongrel,'  a 
'half  Bloodhound,'  and  a  dozen  other  hard  names.  So 
convinced,  however,  was  Mr.  Pearce  of  his  purity  of  breed- 
ing, that  he  determined  to  put  the  matter  to  the  test  of 

(75) 


76  THE   AMEKICAN   BOOK   OF  THE  DOG. 

experiment,  and  offered  to  trust  one  of  his  stock,  out  of 
Regent,  to  the  care  of  the  writer  of  this  article,  to  be 
brought  up  where  he  could  not  possibly  see  game,  and  at 
the  proper  age,  namely,  nine  or  ten  months,  to  be  first 
introduced  to  it.  The  result  was  in  accordance  with  Mr. 
Pearce's  prophecy,  for  the  puppy  not  only  beat  his  ground 
in  fine  style,  but  at  the  end  of  a  few  hours  work  began  to 
stand  his  birds  as  only  a  well-bred  Pointer  or  Setter  will 
do,  without  any  artificial  education  of  any  kind.  Of  course 
the  report  of  this  trial  added  greatly  to  Kent's  reputation; 
and  being  followed  by  the  successes  of  Rex  (the  above 
puppy)  at  Stafford  and  Shrewsbury,  where  he  won  three 
cups,  beating  in  the  final  trial  Mr.  Field's  Duke  (an  English 
Setter),  who  had  gained  a  high  reputation  in  previous 
years,  Kent  had  so  strong  a  run  at  the  stud  for  several 
years  that  it  would  be  difficult  at  the  present  day  to  find  a 
Black  and  Tan  Setter  without  a  strain  of  his  blood.  Mr. 
Pearce's  Regent  had  several  large  litters  by  him,  including 
Rex,  Young  Kent,  lowne,  La  Reine,  Dane,  Deal,  and  Silk, 
all  winners  at  shows  or  field  trials." 

I  quote  the  above  for  the  reason  that  no  pure-bred  Gor- 
don's pedigree  to-day  can  be  found  that  does  not  trace  to 
Kent  and  the  above-named  dogs,  and  end  with  such  well- 
known  Gordon  Setters  as  Lord  Bolingbroke' s  Argyle  and 
Ruby  I.  (E.  K.  S.  B.,  No.  1683),  or  Coward's  Sam,  Joblin's 
Nell,  or  Friday  and  Fan,  Duke  of  Gordon's  Grouse,  Duke 
of  Gordon's  Nell,  or  to  Zango,  Zara,  Major,  Nep,  Drill,  or 
Mopsa. 

Coming  down  to  the  present  day,  we  find  that  the  Gor- 
don Setter  in  America  is  called,  by  the  opposition,  all  the 
hard  names  they  can  think  of  because  some  men  who  breed 
dogs  simply  for  show,  breed  them  to  a  size  that  utterly 
unfits  them  for  field-work.  In  fact,  many  of  these  so- 
called  Gordons  were  not  Gordons,  but  a  cross-bred  dog. 
Their  being  black-and-tan  in  color  was  sufficient  to  mislead 
the  amateur  and  the  unsophisticated  judge.  Their  owners 
called  them  Gordons,  exhibited  and  sold  them  as  such,  and 
as  a  field  dog  they  were  a  failure.  The  pure-bred  Gordon 


THE  AMERICAN   GORDON    SETTER.  77 

had  to  suffer  the  odium  cast  upon  him  by  these  impostors, 
whereas  if  the  amateur  had  purchased  of  breeders  who 
could  trace  pedigrees  to  the  above-named  dogs,  he  would 
have  been  a  happier  and  wiser  man. 

A  dog  who  is  simply  a  prize-winner,  no  matter  if  he  is 
not  pure  bred,  or  is  even  gun-shy,  or  has  never  seen  game, 
is  more  valued  by  the  average  mug-hunter  than  the  finest 
field  dog  in  the  country.  The  bench  shows  were  to  blame, 
in  a  measure,  at  least,  for  this  state  of  affairs,  in  having 
only  one  class  in  which  this  breed  could  enter,  and  that  for 
Black  and  Tan  Setters;  when,  in  fact,  they  should  have  had 
a  class  for  Gordon  Setters,  and  the  Black  and  Tan  should 
have  been  in  the  cross-bred  or  English  class. 

To  remedy  this  evil,  and  save  the  Gordon  Setter  from  the 
odium  that  was  being  cast  upon  him  by  having  to  be 
entered  in  the  same  class  with  the  Black  and  Tan  (causing 
the  best  specimens  of  the  Gordon  Setter  to  be  kept  at  home 
for  many  years),  the  field  sportsmen,  and  lovers  of  the  pure- 
bred Gordon  Setter,  met  and  formed  a  club,  known  as  the 
American  Gordon  Setter  Club.  We  went  before  the  Ameri- 
can Kennel  Club,  requesting  them  to  give  us  a  class  in  the 
Stud  Book  for  our  pure-bred  dogs,  and  to  call  this  strain  the 
American  Gordon  Setter.  Our  request  was  granted;  and  in 
the  future,  none  but  a  dog  with  a  pure  Gordon  Setter  pedi- 
gree can  be  registered  as  an  American  Gordon  Setter. 

The  cross-bred  dog,  who  depended  upon  his  black-and- 
tan  color  to  deceive  the  public,  has  now  to  be  registered 
in  the  cross-bred  class.  The  success  of  the  American  Gor- 
don Setter  Club  in  this  matter  has  saved  one  of  the  best 
strains  of  field  dogs  from  utter  ruin.  So  the  strain  of  dogs 
that  was  known  at  the  Duke  of  Gordon's  Castle  as  the  Gor- 
don Setter,  and  in  England  as  the  Black  and  Tan  Setter,  are 
now  known  in  America  as  the  American  Gordon  Setter. 

The  Gordon  Setter  as  seen  at  Gordon  Castle  was  un- 
doubtedly black-and-tan,  and  black,  white,  and  tan.  Many 
of  the  best-bred  Gordon  dogs  throw,  in  their  litters,  pups 
with  a  toe  or  two  marked  with  white,  or  with  a  white  frill 
on  same.  A  litter,  a  few  years  back,  without  some  white 


78  THE  AMERICAN   BOOK   OF  THE  DOG. 

was  rare;  but  by  careful  breeding,  and  by  breeding  only 
from  those  with  the  least  possible  white,  in  time  we  shall 
see  Gordons  without  a  white  hair  on  them. 

I  never  cast  aside  a  puppy  that  is  nicely  made,  even  now, 
if  he  has  white  on  chest;  although  I  prefer  them  without  it, 
and  hope  soon  to  have  litters  with  no  other  markings  than 
black-and-tan. 

Following  is  the  standard  adopted  by  the  American 
Gordon  Setter  Club,  and  all  who  wish  to  advance  the  increas- 
ing popularity  of  the  Gordon  are  breeding  up  to  it: 

VALUE    OF   POINTS. 

Head,  including  muzzle  arid  nose. . .  15     Stern  and  flag 8 

Eyes,  ears,  and  lips 5    Color  and  markings 8 

Neck 5    Texture  of  coat  and  feather 6 

Shoulders  and  chest  ....  15    Symmetry  and  quality 8 

Back,  loins,  thighs,  and  stifles 15 

Legs,  feet,  elbows,  and  hocks 15         Total 100 

SJcull. — The  skull  should  be  lighter  than  in  the  old  type 
of  Gordon  Setters,  as  was  usually  seen  at  bench  shows, 
must  be  clean  cut,  with  occiput  well  denned,  and  a  decided 
stop  below  the  eyes;  and  from  eye  to  occiput  should  be 
from  five  to  five  and  a  half  inches  in  length. 

Muzzle. — The  muzzle  must  be  straight  from  eyes  to  end 
of  nose,  without  any  inclination  to  what  is  termed  ' '  Roman 
nose,"  and  without  coarseness;  it  should  be  from  corner  of 
eye  to  end  of  nose  four  inches  in  length.  Nostrils  must  be 
full  and  wide,  and  nose  black  in  color.  Jaws  should  be 
exactly  even  in  length;  a  " snipe-nose"  or  "pig- jaw"  is  a 
decided  blemish. 

Eyes,  ears,  and  lips. — Eyes  must  be  of  medium  size,  and 
a  deep  brown  in  color,  mild  and  intellectual  in  expression. 
Ears  should  be  set  low  on  head,  and  lie  flat  to  the  cheeks, 
without  any  tendency  to  prick;  should  be  longer  than  in 
other  breeds  of  Setters.  They  must  be  thin  in  leather,  and 
must  be  well  coated  with  fine,  silky  hair,  with  as  little  wave 
as  possible;  the  hair  should  extend  an  inch  or  two  below 
the  leather.  The  lips  should  be  slightly  pendulous;  a  trifle 
more  so  than  in  other  breeds  of  Setters. 

Neck. — The  neck  should  be  of  good  length,  clean  and 


THE  AMERICAN   GORDON   SETTER.  79 

racy,  with  gradual  rise  from  shoulders  to  head,  and  slightly 
inclined  to  arch;  should  be  almost  free  of  leather,  but  is  not 
expected  to  be  as  clean  on  underside  as  a  Pointer's. 

Shoulders  and  chest. — The  shoulders  should  be  deep, 
with  moderately  sloping  blades;  should  be  strong,  and  posi- 
tively free  of  lumber,  and  showing  great  liberty.  The 
chest  must  be  flat  between  the  fore  legs,  moderately  deep 
and  narrow,  giving  the  animal  a  racy  appearance  in  front. 
The  ribs  must  be  well  sprung  behind  the  shoulders,  but  not 
sufficient  to  give  the  animal  the  appearance  of  being  too 
round  in  barrel,  and  should  extend  well  back  toward  the 
hips. 

Back,  loins,  thighs,  and  stifles. — The  back  should  be 
short  and  straight,  with  loins  strong,  and  slightly  arched; 
any  tendency  to  sway-back  being  decidedly  objectionable. 
Thighs  must  be  strong,  with  the  muscle  extending  well 
down  toward  the  hocks.  The  stifles  should  be  moderately 
well  bent,  and  set  somewhat  wide  apart;  they  should  be 
long  from  point  of  hip  to  hock- joint. 

Legs,  feet,  elbows,  and  hocks. — The  fore  legs  must  be 
straight,  and  sufficiently  strong  in  bone,  with  elbows  stand- 
ing close  to  the  chest,  but  not  under  it.  Hind  legs  to  con- 
form in  bone  with  the  fore  legs;  they  should  be  moderately 
bent.  Hocks  must  be  straight.  The  feet  must  be  round, 
hard,  arched,  and  well  padded,  with  hair  between  the  toes. 
The  "  cat-foot"  should  have  the  preference. 

Stern  and  flag. — The  stern  should  be  set  on  slightly 
below  the  line  of  back,  and  carried  in  very  nearly  a  straight 
line  from  the  body— the  straighter  the  better;  a  "  tea-pot" 
tail  is  a  decided  blemish.  When  carried  down  with  the 
hand,  it  should  not  reach  below  the  hock- joint;  should  taper 
gradually  from  the  body  to  a  "sting-like"  end.  The  flag 
must  be  fine  and  straight,  any  inclination  to  curl  or  ropiness 
being  objectionable;  it  should  taper  to  nothing  at  the  end. 

Color  and  markings.—  The  color  should  be  a  rich,  glossy, 
plum  black,  with  deep  senna  or  dark  mahogany,  tan 
markings,  clearly  defined,  and  without  admixture  of  black, 
though  a  little  penciling  of  black  on  the  toes  is  admissible. 


80  THE   AMERICAN    BOOK    OF   THE    DOG. 

The  tan  should  show  on  lips,  cheeks,  throat,  spot  over  eyes, 
underside  of  each  ear,  on  front  of  chest,  on  feet  and  legs, 
also  at  vent,  but  must  not  extend  into  flag  more  than  three 
inches.  The  tan  should  show  nearly  to  elbows  on  inside  of 
fore  legs,  and  to  the  hocks  or  above  them  on  inside  of  hind 
legs.  An  American  Gordon  Setter  with  a  white  frill  must 
not  be  cast  aside;  but  aim  to  breed  them  with  as  little  white 
as  possible.  A  good  dog  must  not  be  disqualified  for  hav- 
ing white  as  above  described.  Any  white  on  feet  or  tail  is 
a  blemish. 

Texture  of  coat  and  feather . — The  coat  should  be  fine 
and  flat,  any  inclination  to  curl  being  objectionable,  though 
a  slight  wave  is  admissible.  The  feather  should  be  about 
the  same  in  quantity  as  in  the  English  Setter,  running  down 
to  feet  on  fore  legs,  and  to  hocks  on  hind  legs,  but  only 
slightly  feathered  below  the  hocks. 

Symmetry  and  quality. — The  American  Gordon  Setter 
should  display  much  character;  the  general  outline  must 
look  the  thorough  workman  all  over,  and  must  absolutely 
be  without  lumber.  He  should  be  very  blood-like  in 
appearance,  combining  great  quality  with  symmetry. 

The  weight  of  my  dogs  is  from  forty-five  to  fifty  pounds; 
height  at  shoulder,  twenty  to  twenty-four  and  one-half 
inches.  My  bitches  are  less  in  height  and  less  in  weight 
If  you  increase  the  above  height  or  weight,  you  will  have 
a  dog  that  is  a  labor  to  himself,  and  forever  in  your  way. 
The  weight  given  above  makes  a  good -sized  dog,  and  you 
can  take  two  of  them  with  you  in  your  light  top-buggy, 
for  a  hunt  or  a  run.  My  advice  to  all  is  not  to  breed  them 
larger  than  the  size  above  described.  You  will  find  them 
just  what  you  desire  in  looks. 

The  following  pedigree  is  of  the  writer's  American 
Gordon  Setter  Whip,  whose  service  has  been  largely 
sought  after.  He  has  been  bred  to  many  of  our  best  Amer- 
ican Gordon  Setter  bitches,  as  well  as  to  imported  bitches. 
This  pedigree  will  be  found  a  valuable  guide  in  selecting 
pure  blood.  It  traces  to  the  best-bred  and  best-known 
field  Gordon  Setters  that  ever  lived,  in  Scotland,  England, 


THE  AMERICAN   GORDON   SETTER. 


81 


and  America;  and  the  blood  of  the  dogs  mentioned  in  it  is 
distributed  from  Maine  to  California.  Whip's  descendants 
are  owned  by  gentlemen  who  keep  them  to  shoot  over;  and 
some  who  have  cared  to  exhibit  them  at  bench  shows  have 
won  with  them.  Some  in  the  pedigree  have  been  winners 
at  field  trials  abroad.  The  Gordon  Setter  Gordon  won 
second  at  a  field  trial  in  America,  and  was  justly  entitled  to 


GORDON  SETTER— BOB. 
Owned   by  Mr.   A.   H.   Moore,   Philadelphia,  Penn. 

first.  Ere  long,  when  their  owners  make  up  their  minds  to 
run  them  in  public  field  trials,  you  will  see  them  go  to  the 
front  with  ease.  I  never  have  shown  or  run  one  at  a  public 
trial,  but  have  hunted  them  in  private,  in  the  best  of 
company,  with  Setters  of  other  strains,  and  have  never 
seen  them  beaten.  Nor  do  I  believe  the  Setter  or  Pointer 
lives  that  can  work  with  them,  in  all  kinds  of  cover  and  over 
all  kinds  of  ground,  and  defeat  them  in  a  long  hunt. 


PEDIGREE    OF    THE 
A.  K.  C.  S.  B.,  No.  8120.     Black  and  Tan.     Whelped  June  8,  1887. 


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84  THE   AMERICAN   BOOK    OF   THE   DOG. 

I  keep  my  dogs  for  my  own  shooting,  for  pleasure,  and 
to  enjoy  with  them,  alone  or  with  my  personal  friends,  the 
pleasures  of  the  field  in— 

"  The  brilliant  autumn-time, 

The  most  brilliant  time  of  all: 
When  the  gorgeous  woods  are  gleaming, 

Ere  the  leaves  begin  to  fall; 
When  the  maple-boughs  are  crimson, 

And  the  hickory  shines  like  gold; 
When  the  noons  are  sultry  hot, 

And  the  nights  are  frosty  cold; 
When  the  country  has  no  green 

But  the  sword-grass  by  the  rill, 
And  the  willows  in  the  valley, 

And  the  pine  upon  the  hill; 
When  the  pippin  leaves  the  bough, 

And  the  sumac  fruit  is  red, 
And  the  quail  is  piping  loud 

From  the  buckwheat  where  he's  fed." 

Pardon  my  digression,  my  friends;  but  the  mention  of 
autumn  stirs  the  fire  that  is  within  me,  and  ever  turns  my 
thoughts  afield,  and  to  the  above  beautiful  lines  from  the 
pen  of  that  gifted  sportsman,  ' '  Frank  Forester. ' '  I  live  from 
year  to  year  to  enjoy  the  pleasures  that  I  find  afield.  In  the 
early  years  of  my  life,  I  hunted  over  the  old  native  English 
Setters  and  Pointers;  but  I  believe  that,  in  view  of  the  scarcity 
of  game  to-day,  and  the  hard  work  the  dogs  of  this  age  have 
to  do  to  find  six  or  eight  coveys  of  quail  in  a  day,  the  old- 
time  Setter  would  not  be  of  much  service  to  us  now.  The 
birds  are  smarter,  and  harder  to  find;  they  scatter,  when 
flushed,  into  the  thick  cover.  The  old-time  Setter  had  no 
such  work  to  do  as  our  dogs  of  this  age;  so  I  do  not  hesi- 
tate to  say  that  the  old-time  Setter  is  a  dog  of  the  past, 
and  alongside  of  our  keen-nosed,  nimble-footed  Gordon, 
would  cut  a  sorry  figure. 

I  never  have  gone  afield  with  a  dog  that  has  given  me  so 
much  genuine  satisfaction,  in  every  way,  as  do  my  Gordons. 
I  have  hunted  them  in  the  best  of  company  for  days,  but 
have  never  yet  seen  any  of  the  others  stand  up  to  their 
work  for  so  long  a  time,  day  in  and  day  out,  as  the  Gordon 


THE   AMERICAN   GORDON   SETTER.  t  85 

Setter.  Neither  have  I  ever  seen  his  equal,  in  nose,  obedi- 
ence, stanchness,  and  speed.  When  the  nature  of  the 
ground  will  permit  it,  he  is  one  of  the  fleetest  dogs  of  the 
Setter  breed.  At  his  work,  he  is  naturally  a  high-headed 
dog,  always  seeking  for  the  body-scent  of  his  game.  When 
the  weather  is  such  as  to  require  it,  he  is  quick  to  take  the 
foot-scent  as  well.  His  natural  instinct  is  developed  in  a 
marked  degree,  and  it  leads  him  to  know  where  to  look  for 
his  game,  without  that  racing  over  ground  that  is  charac- 
teristic of  Setters  of  other  strains. 

I  have  ever  found  them  easily  broken,  and  they  never 
forget,  when  once  taught,  what  is  required  of  them.  You 
can  shoot  over  them  the  first  of  the  season  with  as  much 
pleasure  as  at  the  end. 

The  American  Gordon  Setter  has  never  taken  part  in  public 
trials,  except  on  one  or  two  occasions  in  America.  The  rea- 
son is  that  they  have  never  been  owned  by  those  who  cared 
for  yearly  field  trials,  or  for  a  test  of  so  short  a  duration. 
Most  of  those  who  run  dogs  at  yearly  trials  own  either 
Llewellin  Setters  x^r  Pointers,  and  select  judges  from  those 
who  own  the  same  breeds;  and  Gordon  Setter  owners  have 
been  well  aware  that  in  running  their  dogs  under  them  they 
would  have  a  poor  show. 

The  field- trial  advocates  are  preparing  to  organize  yearly 
trials,  in  which  each  brace  of  dogs  are  to  be  run  eight 
hours.  They  should  have,  for  these  trials,  judges  from  all 
the  Setter  strains,  and  Pointer  men  also.  This  would,  I 
think,  with  their  eight-hour  heats,  bring  out  more  dogs 
than  ever  have  been  seen  at  any  of  the  thirty-five-minute 
heat  trials  in  the  past. 

Keep  your  dogs  well  exercised,  for  no  dog,  unless  he  is, 
will  keep  in  health.  A  dog  that  is  properly  exercised  will 
not,  after  your  first  day' s  hunt,  be  running  to  heel,  but  on 
the  contrary,  will  do  all  the  work  you  may  require  of  him, 
no  matter  whether  for  a  week  or  a  month.  My  way  is  to  have 
my  dogs  follow  me  in  my  drives  for  miles.  I  give  them 
but  gentle  exercise  in  the  summer,  not  over  six  miles  in  the 
round  trip,  and  over  a  route  where  they  can  find  plenty  of 


86  T£E  AMERICAN   BOOK   OF   THE  DOG. 

water  from  the  streams.  After  October  1st,  I  run  them 
from  fourteen  to  twenty  miles  every  other  day.  This  puts 
them  in  fine  condition  to  shoot  over.  Never  have  them  too 
fat,  nor  so  thin  that  you  can  see  through  them,  but  in  that 
happy  medium  state,  so  that  they  look  and  feel  like  they 
could  go  for  months,  and  with  a  will  and  vim  of  their  own. 
I  will  now  take  you  back  to  their  puppyhood,  and  give 
you  some  advice,  which,  if  you  will  follow,  and  provided 
you  have  the  kind  of  dogs  that  I  have  described,  you  will 


CHAMPION    LITTLE    BOY.* 
Owned  by  Dr.  Charles  G.  Dixon,  2015  Chestnut  street,  Philadelphia,  Penn. 

have  a  dog  as  handsome  as  a  picture  to  look  upon,  a  devoted 
companion,  and  a  dog  that  can  do  your  work  afield  as  long 
as  you  care  to  hunt  him,  or  that  will  follow  your  wagon,  in 
giving  him  exercise,  as  long  as  you  care  to  drive. 

*  Little  Boy  is  by  Pilot,  out  of  Fly,  and  carries  in  his  veins  some  of  the  best 
Gordon  blood  in  America.  He  was  whelped  November  24,  1882.  His  winnings 
are  as  follows: 

First,  New  York,  1884;  second,  Philadelphia,  1885;  second,  Philadelphia, 
1888;  first,  Boston,  1888;  first,  Cincinnati,  1888;  first,  Toledo,  1888;  first,  Buf- 
falo, 1888;  first,  Syracuse,  1888;  first,  Richmond,  1888;  first,  Pittsburgh,  1889; 


THE  AMERICAN   GORDON   SETTER.  87 

Always  make  it  a  rule  in  breeding  a  bitch  to  have  her  in 
whelp  when  some  of  our  game  birds  are  in  season,  so  that  you 
can  shoot  over  her  and  let  her  enjoy  the  pleasure  of  finding 
game.  Never  breed  a  bitch,  no  matter  how  handsome  she 
may  be,  unless  she  is  broken,  and  has  shown  all  the  requi- 
sites of  a  first-class  field  dog.  The  same  rule  that  applies 
to  a  bitch  must  apply  to  the  dog.  Never,  under  any  cir- 
cumstances, breed  to  a  dog  or  bitch  simply  because  they 
have  won  several  prizes  at  bench  shows.  I  have  known 
some  of  the  bench-show  champions  to  be  the  vilest  duffers 
afield,  and  some  so  gun-shy  that  the  sight  of  a  gun  would 
make  them  run  for  miles  to  get  to  a  place  of  hiding.  This 
I  know  to  be  a  fact,  and  it  is  true  of  some  of  the  winning 
Gordon,  English,  and  Irish  Setters,  as  well  as  of  Pointers; 
so  be  careful  in  your  selection  of  sire  and  dam. 

When  your  bitch  is  in  whelp,  give  her  gentle  exercise 
each  day,  up  to  the  day  she  is  due  to  whelp;  feed  her  on  soft 
food,  a  little  raw  beef -liver  each  day,  up  to  the  time  she 
whelps.  After  whelping,  give  her  boiled  rump-beef,  soup, 
vegetables,  and  table-scraps.  Feed  her  well. 

When  the  puppies  are  about  nine  or  eleven  days  old, 
their  eyes  will  open.  When  they  are  four  weeks  old,  begin 
to  feed  them,  as  it  helps  to  take  the  strain  off  the  mother, 
and  helps  them  to  gain  strength.  You  will  almost  see  them 
grow. 

At  this  age,  if  there  are  symptoms  of  worms,  as  there  are 
likely  to  be,  give  each  puppy  half  a  teaspoonful,  once  a 


first,  New  York,  1889;  first,  Troy,  1889;  first,  Albany,  1889;  first,  Utica,  1889; 
first,  Rochester,  1889;  first,  Chicago,  1889;  second,  Philadelphia,  1889;  first, 
Toledo,  1889;  first,  Elmira,  1889;  first,  Danbury,  Conn.,  1889;  second,  New 
York,  1890;  first,  Chicago,  1890;  first,  Rochester,  1890;  first,  Boston,  1890; 
first,  Buffalo,  1890. 

Special  winnings:  Special,  New  York,  1884;  special,  Toledo,  1888,  for  best 
sporting  dog  or  bitch  in  show;  special,  Buffalo  and  Syracuse,  1888;  special, 
Syracuse,  Troy,  Utica,  Philadelphia,  1889;  Toledo,  1889,  for  best  Gordon  Setter 
dog  or  bitch  in  show,  for  best  sporting  dog  in  show,  for  best  Setter  or  Pointer 
in  show,  for  best  Gordon,  English,  or  Irish  Setter  in  show;  special,  Chicago, 
Rochester,  Baltimore,  and  Boston,  1890;  Buffalo,  1890,  for  best  Gordon  dog  in 
show. — ED. 


88  THE   AMERICAN   BOOK    OF   THE   DOG. 

day  for  three  days,  of  Fry's  Vermifuge.  After  giving  it  for 
three  days,  try  them,  about  two  weeks  later,  to  see  if  the 
worms  are  cleaned  out  of  them,  and  you  will  be  surprised 
to  see  healthy-looking  puppies,  that  you  thought  had  none, 
pass  worms  in  great  knots.  These  worms  cause  the  death  of 
over  three  fourths  of  all  the  puppies  that  die.  I  have  never 
lost  a  young  puppy  in  my  life — all  owing  to  care  in  looking 
well  after  this  worm  pest. 

Next,  look  wellto.lice  and  fleas.  I  use  Thymo-Cresol, 
called  also  cold  water  dip.  It  is  a  great  disinfectant,  and 
is  not  poisonous.  It  cures  all  skin  diseases,  and  I  use  it  in 
mange  with  universal  success.  You  can  get  it  of  your 
druggist.  Use  it  in  the  following  manner: 

When  practical,  use  soft  (rain,  pond,  or  river)  water. 
Dilute  to  the  required  strength.  Always  pour  the  water 
quickly  upon  the  Thymo-Cresol,  and  not  the  Thymo-Cresol 
upon  the  water.  In  winter,  protect  it  from  frost;  and  before 
using,  shake  the  can.  If  it  does  not  mix  well  with  cold 
water,  mix  it  with  warm  water  first,  and  then  add  cold  to 
the  required  proportion.  The  proportions  in  which  the 
Thymo-Cresol  should  be  diluted  with  water,  for  various  pur- 
poses, are  indicated.  A  large  teaspoonful  of  Thymo-Cresol 
to  a  pint  of  water,  or  a  pint  of  the  Thymo-Cresol  to  twelve 
gallons  of  water,  makes  a  strength  of  about  "one  to  one 
hundred." 

This  quantity  will  do  to  wash  six  or  eight  puppies;  then 
mix  a  new  lot  for  any  more  puppies  you  may  wish  to  wash. 
When  you  have  dipped  them  in  and  rubbed  it  well  in,  take 
them  out  and  dry  them.  After  two  applications,  you 
will  find  all  the  lice  and  fleas  have  been  destroyed.  When 
they  are  eight  weeks  old,  wean  them,  take  the  bitch  to  new 
quarters,  and  use  the  following  mixture,  rubbing  it  well 
into  her  breast: 

Iodide  of  potassium,  two  drams;  soap,  liniment,  and  oil 
of  camphor,  each  two  ounces. 

Examine  the  bitch's  breast  each  day,  and  draw  off  all 
milk  with  the  fingers  that  you  can.  In  a  few  days  she 
will  be  in  proper  shape  to  work,  and  will  be  dried  up  nicely. 


THE  AMERICAN   GORDON   SETTER.  89 

When  you  have  for  several  weeks  fed  your  puppies  on 
boiled  grits,  or  boiled  oatmeal,  and  a  little  cooked  meat 
twice  a  week,  and  they  have  learned  to  eat  well  and  take 
care  of  themselves,  send  the  brace,  or  braces,  you  may  wish 
to  keep  to  someone  you  know  in  the  country,  to  raise  for 
you.  It  may  cost  you  a  few  dollars  each  month,  but  you 
will  be  well  repaid  in  the  hardy  growth  of  your  puppies. 
Wherever  you  send  them,  have  it  distinctly  understood 
that  you  wish  them  to  run  loose,  as  your  desire  is  to 
develop  every  bone  and  muscle  in  them. 

When  they  are  about  ten  months  old,  bring  them  home; 
and  after  the  youngsters  have  learned  to  know  you,  and 
show  by  their  actions  that  they  have  accustomed  them- 
selves to  the  change  and  to  the  whistle,  teach  them  to  drop 
and  follow  well  to  heel,  which  you  will  find  a  great  comfort 
to  you  when  you  walk  them.  Then  take  them  in  your 
buggy  when  you  drive,  that  they  may  get  accustomed  to 
the  motion  of  the  wagon.  Never  feed  old  or  young  dogs 
just  before  you  go  out  to  exercise.  When  over  their  first 
sea-sickness,  as  it  were,  make  them  drop  the  moment  you 
put  them  in  the  buggy,  and  keep  them  down  until  you  are 
ready  to  let  them  out  for  a  run. 

Nothing  is  more  annoying  to  me,  when  I  bundle  into  a 
wagon,  on  a  shooting-trip  with  a  friend,  than  to  have  him 
say  his  dog  has  never  ridden,  and  in  a  few  moments  to  have 
him  vomit  all  over  the  floor.  Or  if  he  has  not  ridden  before, 
and  is  not  broken  to  drop  in  the  wagon,  but  to  be  all 
over  it — head  on  the  reins  and  in  your  lap,  I  prefer  to 
get  out  and  walk.  Hence  this  advice  as  to  training  dogs 
to  ride. 

As  soon  as  your  puppies  have  been  well  broken  to  ride  and 
drop  in  the  wagon,  take  one  of  your  old  stand-by' s  out  with 
you  and  your  brace  of  puppies.  Let  them  out  on  the  road 
for  a  run  of  a  mile  on  the  first  trip,  being  careful  to  select 
roads  but  little  traveled  until  your  puppies  have  learned  to 
keep  away  from  passing  wagons.  You  must  drive  slowly, 
being  careful  that  you  do  not  run  over  them.  They  soon 
learn  to  follow  well,  and  in  a  short  time  you  can  give  them 


90  THE    AMERICAN    BOOK    OF   THE   DOG. 

good  long  and  fast  spins  with  the  older  dogs.  Never  run 
a  puppy  until  you  tire  him;  it  makes  him  sluggish. 

Your  next  move  is  to  take  him  afield  with  one  of  your 
broken  dogs,  to  find  game;  for  of  course  you  are  anxious  to 
fully  determine  whether  his  nose  is  as  fine  as  you  have 
thought  from  your  early  observations  in  watching  him  find 
his  food  when  thrown  in  the  tall  grass,  and  the  several  little 
things  you  have  seen  him  do,  such  as,  when  running  on 
the  road,  to  suddenly  stop,  and  turn  and  hunt  out  a  bone, 
or  scent  a  barn-yard  hen.  All  these  little  things  are  indic- 
ative of  a  good  nose,  and  to  fully  satisfy  yourself,  before 
making  any  further  move  in  his  education,  is  the  reason 
you  wish  to  see  him  on  game. 

I  have  put  down  many  a  puppy  on  game  that  at  once 
began  to  range,  and  with  tail  action  of  the  very  best  style, 
find  and  point.  I  love  a  lively  tail  action,  and  the  best  field 
dogs  I  ever  saw  all  had  it.  After  your  old  dog  has  found 
game,  call  your  puppy  to  you  with  a  whistle,  if  he  is  not 
then  on  a  point  with  the  old  dog.  He  may  go  in  and  flush, 
but  let  him  alone.  Remember  you  are  not  out  to  break 
him,  only  to  test  his  nose.  When  the  birds  are  scattered, 
and  the  old  dog  stands,  you  will  probably  see  him  swing 
into  his  first  point,  at  a  distance  from  his  game  that  will 
convince  you  he  is  the  dog  you  wish  to  break. 

If,  however,  you  go  out  once  or  twice  before  your 
youngster  gives  you  any  indication  of  nose,  do  not  be  dis- 
couraged; you  may  see  it  later.  If  not,  after  a  dozen  or 
more  trials,  under  favorable  circumstances,  I  should  get  rid 
of  him.  It  is  seldom,  in  the  Gordon  family,  that  you  see  a 
well-bred,  well-raised  puppy  but  what  will  stand  his  game 
on  the  first  day' s  trial,  and  most  of  them  show  most  excel- 
lent noses  at  a  very  early  age. 

I  knew  a  Llewellin  Setter,  imported  by  a  personal  friend 
of  mine,  in  this  city,  direct  from  Mr.  Llewellin,  that  was 
placed  in  the  hands  of  one  of  the  most  successful  field-trial 
handlers  in  Tennessee.  He  worked  his  hardest  to  develop 
the  dog,  which  was  then  about  fifteen  months  old,  but 
returned  him  as  being  no  good.  When  this  dog  was  over 


THE  AMERICAN   GORDON   SETTER. 


91 


two  years  old,  lie  turned  out  quite  a  fine  worker;  he  was  one 
of  the  late-developing  kind.  I  have  never  seen  this  in  any 
Gordon  Setters. 

While  you  had  your  puppy  out,  of  course  you  shot  over 
him,  to  see  that  he  was  not  gun-shy.  While  on  this  sub- 
ject, I  will  state  that  of  all  the  dogs  I  have  raised  to  shoot 
over  in  my  life,  I  have  never  yet  had  one  prove  gun-shy.  My 
success  has  been  owing  to  my  never  breeding  to  anything 
but  well -broken  dogs,  and  in  not  breeding  to  an  unbroken 
bench-show  dog  simply  because  he  won  prizes,  was  hand- 


CHAMPION    PILOT. 
Owned  by  Dr.  Charles  G    Dixon,  2015  Chestnut  street,  Philadelphia,  Penn. 

some,  and  had  a  fashionable  pedigree.  Nor  have  I  ever 
permitted  my  bitch  to  whelp  under  a  barn,  and  I  not  to 
see  her  litter  until  they  were  running  around.  From  the 
day  your  puppies  are  whelped,  you  should  have  access  to 
them,  and  accustom  them  to  your  presence  as  soon  as  they 
can  see — to  all  noises  you  can  make  in  their  hearing.  Take 
them  out  with  you  as  soon  as  large  enough  to  follow,,  and 
fire  several  charges  from  your  gun  while  they  are  romping 
about  you.  After  each  time  you  fire,  call  them  to  you, 
fondle  and  romp  with  them,  and  you  will  soon  see,  when 


92  THE  AMERICAN   BOOK    OF   THE   DOG. 

you  show  the  youngsters  the  gun,  how  delighted  they  will 
be  to  join  you  in  your  tramps,  and  also  how  pleased  they 
are  to  smell  powder. 

As  regards  breaking,  my  method  is  the  same  as  most  all 
sportsmen  use,  and  I  will  not  enter  into  it  for  fear  of  tiring 
my  readers.  I  will  simply  say,  if  you  wish  to  break  your 
own  dog,  buy  "Modern  Training,  Handling,  and  Kennel 
Management,"  by  B.  Waters. 

My  advice  to  young  sportsmen  is  to  get  a  first-class 
trainer  to  break  their  dogs,  if  they  can  afford  it;  and  when 
he  is  nearly  finished,  request  the  trainer  to  give  them  a 
week's  instruction  on  how  to  work  the  dogs  after  they  are 
broken. 

The  Gordon  Setter  I  have  always  found  to  be  one  of  the 
hardiest,  and  if  well  housed  arid  fed,  they  seldom  require 
medicine.  I  hardly  know  what  distemper  is  with  them, 
for  I  have  not  had  a  puppy  or  grown  dog  afflicted  with  it 
for  over  twelve  years,  and  then  it  was  contracted  by  coming- 
in  contact  with  a  road  dog,  while  exercising.  My  bitch 
June  lived  until  she  was  thirteen  and  one-half  years  old; 
Malcolm  died  at  eleven  and  one-half,  from  inflammation  of 
the  bowels  caused  by  swallowing  a  bone.  A  few  months 
before  he  died,  I  hunted  him  for  several  days,  and  his  nose 
was  as  fine,  and  his  speed  and  endurance  were  just  as  good, 
as  when  he  was  five  years  old.  The  Gordon  Setter  is  game 
in  all  his  work.  He  is  willing  to  face  the  stoutest  briers, 
or  retrieve  his  game  even  if  he  has  to  go  through  a  skim  of 
ice.  Many  a  bird  have  they  brought  me  that  fell  on  the 
opposite  side  of  a  stout  stream,  in  mid-winter,  and  they  did 
it  with  as  much  determination  as  they  showed  in  retrieving 
woodcock  in  summer. 

When  starting  out  for  a  two-weeks  trip,  take  with  you 
about  seventy-five  pounds  of  corn-meal  and  twenty  pounds 
of  beef  flour.  This  will  be  all  you  require  to  feed  a 
brace  or  two  on  during  your  stay.  Take  of  the  corn-meal 
five  pounds,  and  a  tea-cup  of  the  beef  flour;  mix  well  before 
you  wet  the  meal;  then  wet  and  mix  and  have  baked  nicely 
in  bread-pans;  feed  it  cold.  In  the  morning,  feed  lightly; 


THE   AMERICAN   GORDON   SETTER.  93 

but  on  your  return,  before  you  let  them  go  to  rest,  feed 
them  strongly.  If  you  do  not  feed  before  they  are  kenneled, 
they  will  not  eat  well,  for  the  reason  that  when  once  put 
away  they  prefer  rest  to  food. 

If  you  can,  in  the  section  where  you  are  shooting,  secure 
some  raw  fresh  beef  or  mutton,  give  them  a  good  feed  twice 
a  week.  Rest  assured,  if  your  dogs  are  well  fed,  they  will 
do  twice  the  work  for  you  that  could  possibly  be  gotten 
out  of  them  if  half -starved.  At  the  same  time,  do  not  over- 
feed. Never  feed  them  on  salt  meat  while  on  your  shooting- 
trips,  for  if  you  do  you  will  have  them  filling  themselves 
to  overflowing  with  water,  and  this  will  spoil  your  day's 
shooting. 

When  on  your  trip,  if  you  ride  to  your  shooting-grounds, 
see  that  the  wagon-floor  is  well  covered  with  dry  hay  or 
straw;  put  your  dogs  in,  both  going  and  returning,  thus 
saving  them  all  you  can — and  see  how  they  will  tuck  them- 
selves away  in  the  straw  on  your  way  home. 

When  you  arrive  home  and  feed  them,  take  them  at 
once  to  your  room;  spread  your  dog-blanket,  which  I  pre- 
sume you  have  taken  with  you,  before  the  fire;  let  them 
dry  well,  or  thaw  out,  as  the  state  of  the  weather  may 
require;  take  a  comb  and  get  off  all  the  burs,  especially 
under  the  shoulders,  and  look  the  toes  over  to  see  that  no 
burs  or  dried  or  frozen  mud  are  left  there.  I  prefer  to 
always  keep  my  dogs  in  my  room  at  night,  and  will  not 
stop  at  any  house  where  I  can  not  do  so,  unless  it  be  at  a 
friend's  home. 

By  following  the  above  instructions,  you  will  find  your 
dogs  as  fresh  as  you  would  wish  them  the  next  morning; 
they  will  be  with  you  until  a  good  old  age,  and  no  rheuma- 
tism will  you  see  in  them  at  any  time.  If  you  wish  your 
dogs  to  always  look  well  in  coat,  wash  them  well  all  over 
with  Spratt's  dog  soap,  rubbing  it  well  in  with  a  stiff  root 
brush,  such  as  is  used  for  brushing  a  horse's  mane.  This 
makes  a  lather,  and  will  kill  every  flea  on  them.  Commence 
this  washing  in  May,  and  have  it  done  every  three  weeks 
until  about  October  15th;  then  you  are  rid  of  fleas  on  them 


94  THE  AMERICAN   BOOK    OF   THE   DOG. 

all  winter.  When  you  have  finished  soaping  them,  in  about 
ten  minutes  give  them  a  swim  or  rinse,  to  get  the  lather  off; 
their  coats  will  then  look  as  sleek  as  though  you  had  oiled 
them.  During  the  winter,  once  or  twice  a  week,  have  them 
brushed  well,  from  head  to  heel,  with  the  same  kind  of  root 
brush  mentioned  above;  give  the  exercise  as  directed,  and 
you  will  see  dogs,  in  coat,  muscle,  and  health,  that  will 
please  the  most  fastidious  sportsman  and  fancier. 

If  these  instructions  are  carried  out  to  the  letter,  you  can 
dispense  with  your  medicine-case.  If  you  can  not  keep, 
feed,  and  give  your  dogs  your  personal  attention,  you  had 
better  not  keep  any.  Never  forget  to  permit  your  dogs  to 
have  free  access  to  grass;  they  use  it  for  any  ills  they  may 
have.* 

In  regard  to  x>reparing  your  dog  for  a  bench  show,  each 
exhibitor  has  his  own  way.  I  am  aware  that  much  is  done 
in  the  way  of  doctoring  coat,  etc. ;  but  if  many  exhibitors 
would  pay  more  attention  to  exercise  and  developing  of  the 
muscle,  you  would  not  see  so  many  fat,  flabby,  undevel- 
oped dogs,  in  bone  or  muscle,  of  all  breeds  of  field  dogs,  at 
shows.  I  like  to  see  them  enter  a  ring  before  me  in  perfect 
race-horse  order,  as  hard  in  muscle  as  it  is  possible  to  get 
them;  not  looking  like  they  were  too  weak  to  stand,  or  so 
fat  that  one  would  suppose  they  were  for  the  butcher. 

I  will  here  describe  a  hunt  I  participated  in  one  Septem- 
ber, about  nine  years  ago,  with  several  friends.  I  left  Bal- 
timore, Maryland,  my  home  and  birth-place,  about  the  28th 
of  August.  We  started  for  the  prairies  of  Iowa,  five  hun- 
dred miles  west  of  Chicago,  on  the  Chicago  &  North- Western 

*  Among  the  prominent  owners,  breeders,  and  importers  of  Gordon  Setters 
in  this  country,  may  be  mentioned  Dr.  Samuel  G.  Dixon,  2015  Chestnut  street, 
Philadelphia,  Penn  ;  M.  D.  Baillie,  Arlington,  N.  J. ;  Beaumont  Kennels,  159 
West  Thirty-fourth  street,  New  York  City;  W.  S.  Hammett,  Philadelphia, 
Penn.;  H.  F.  Smith,  1954  North  Eleventh  street,  Philadelphia,  Penn.;  Meadow  - 
thorpe  Kennels,  Lexington,  Ky.;  J.  L.  Campbell,  Sincoe,  Ontario,  Canada;  J. 
B.  Blossom,  938  Prospect  avenue,  Morrisania,  N.  Y. ;  Fred  P.  Kirby,  135  South 
Eighth  street,  Philadelphia,  Penn-.;  8.  R.  Norton,  Lemont,  Cook  County,  111.; 
Playford  Kennels,  Buffalo,  N.  Y  ;  Dr.  I.  T.  Norris,  box  764,  Baltimore,  Md.; 
Dr. Myers,  New  York  City. — ED. 


THE   AMERICAN   GORDON   SETTER.  95 

Railway,  for  a  three- weeks  absence,  which  gave  us  about 
twelve  days  shooting.  We  took  our  tent  and  a  full  camp- 
ing outfit.  In  the  way  of  dogs,  we  had  Irish  and  English 
Setters,  one  black  Pointer,  and  one  lemon-and-white 
Pointer.  I  had  my  brace  of  Gordons,  Malcolm  and  June. 
We  were  on  the  road  three  days  and  nights,  and  arrived  at 
our  destination  at  three  A.  M. 

My  friends  all  retired  for  a  few  hours  rest,  but  I  remained 
up  and  made  arrangements  with  a  liveryman  to  be  at  the 
hotel  at  peep  of  day.  When  he  arrived,  myself  and  two  dogs 
boarded,  and  were  soon  tucked  in  the  straw  at  the  bottom 
of  the  wagon,  my  friends  preferring  to  breakfast,  and  follow 
later.  In  an  hour  we  reached  a  nice-looking  stubble-field.  I 
ordered  a  halt,  and  alighted,  the  dogs  following  suit.  They 
were  ordered  on.  June  had  been  on  chickens  before,  but  Mal- 
colm had  not.  In  about  ten  minutes,  I  saw  them  both  make 
game,  and  in  a  moment  draw  on  and  make  a  fine  point.  1 
flushed  and  killed  a  brace,  and  in  little  over  an  hour  had 
ten  chickens,  all  killed  over  points  to  these  two  dogs;  and 
they  had  not  made  an  error.  It  is  needless  to  say  that  after 
such  a  journey,  and  such  a  performance,  I  was  justly  proud 
of  my  pets.  This  has  been  my  experience  with  my  Gor- 
dons every  year.  On  woodcock,  snipe,  quail,  or  ruffed 
grouse,  I  have  found  them  always  reliable,  stanch,  and 
obedient. 

I  have  hunted  them  in  several  States,  over  hill  and  dale, 
through  brier-patches  and  in  dense  forest— in  fact,  wher- 
ever the  birds  would  seek  refuge;  and  never  yet  have  I  seen 
them  flurried  in  the  least.  They  are  in  appearance  and  in 
nature  the  gentleman's  dog,  both  to  shoot  over  and  as  a 
companion  at  his  home.  They  are  of  the  most  affectionate 
disposition  to  home  folks,  but  are  watchful  when  a  stranger 
is  about. 

On  one  occasion,  in  Caroline  County,  Virginia,  in  1878,  I 
had  arrived  home  and  dressed  for  supper,  after  a  hard  day's 
tramp,  in  the  month  of  December.  My  room  had  an  open 
wood  fire.  My  dogs  were  spread  out  in  front  of  it.  I 
closed  my  door  and  went  down  to  supper.  A  gentleman 


96  THE  AMERICAN   BOOK   OF   THE   DOG. 

from  Richmond,  who  was  stopping  at  the  same  house  for  a 
few  days,  knowing  me,  went  into  my  room  to  warm  up — 
inside  and  out.  The  dogs  let  him  in,  but  when  he  started 
to  go  out,  he  was  halted  by  them,  and  not  until  he  had 
called  me  from  the  supper- table  did  he  get  out;  and  if  I 
had  been  out  of  the  house,  he  most  certainly  would  have 
had  to  await  my  return. 

I  have  seen  my  bitch  Gypsy,  on  several  occasions,  while 
I  have  had  my  birds  and  traps  on  the  station  platform 
awaiting  a  train,  jump  into  and  clean  up  a  passing  dog  for 
attempting  to  nose  my  game.  I  always  place  my  game  in 
the  baggage-car  under  the  care  of  my  dogs,  on  the  floor, 
and  you  can  rest  assured,  none  will  be  appropriated  by  the 
baggage-smasher. 

Gordons  make  the  best  of  yard  dogs;  and  why  people 
will  keep  a  cur  when  they  can  have  one  of  these  beautiful 
and  faithful  animals,  is  beyond  my  comprehension.  In  the 
Gordon  Setter,  one  may  have  a  dog  to  guard  his  family,  a 
playmate  for  his  children,  and  a  dog  that  will  help  to  keep 
the  larder  full. 

I  hope  all  who  may  read  these  lines  will  find  something 
in  them  that  will  be  of  service,  and  assist  them  in  securing 
a  perfect  American  Gordon  Setter.  I  hope  that  many  a 
time,  ere  this,  they  have  felt  that  thrill  from  head  to  heel- 
when  they  beheld  that  brace  of  Gordon  Setters,  on  that 
beautiful  point  on  yonder  hill,  or  have  sat  on  that  moss- 
covered  log  beside  that  gurgling  brook,  and  caressed  them 
fondly  for  that  masterpiece  of  work,  in  having  retrieved  so 
well  that  crippied  bird,  and  without  the  rumple  of  a  feather 
—that  is  the  cream  of  existence  to  the  true  sportsman.  I 
hope  you  are  all  lovers  of  the  charms  of  woodland  scenery, 
for  no  man  can  be  a  true  sportsman  unless  he  is  in  love  with 
all  Nature,  in  her  rural  paradise. 

I  hope  you  have  enjoyed  the  sportsman's  sleep.  If  you 
have  not  seen  and  enjoyed  these  pleasures,  I  am  sorry  for 
you,  for  you  do  not  yet  know  what  pleasure  is.  The  man 
who  is  troubled  with  insomnia,  will,  if  he  take  to  the  field, 
find  health  and  sleep. 


THE  POINTER. 


BY  CHARLES  K.  WESTBROOK,  A.  M. 


ISTOBIOGRAPHY.—  The  exact  origin  of  this  beau- 
tiful and  useful  branch  of  the  canine  family,  as 
well  as  that  of  many  other  varieties,  can  not  be  defi- 
nitely stated.  The  great  naturalist,  Buffon,  was  of 
the  opinion  that  all  the  different  species  of  dogs  derived 
their  origin  from  the  shepherd's  dog;  and  while  it  is 
perhaps  inappropriate  to  discuss  this  question  here,  it 
may  be  remarked,  en  passant,  that  such  an  assumption  may 
possibly  be  a  correct  one.  It  would  appear  quite  natural 
that,  in  those  early  pastoral  days,  that  marked  the  dawning 
era  of  civilization  and  human  development,  as  the  shepherd 
reclined  along  the  borders  of  the  forests  which,  like  a 
mighty  frame-work,  inclosed  the  feeding-grounds  of  his 
flock,  some  specimens  of  the  wild  dog  should  find  their 
way  to  his  side,  and,  by  kind  treatment  and  gradual  domes- 
tication, become  subordinated  to  his  purposes.  Gradually, 
under  the  influences  operating  upon  the  animal,  through 
domestication,  climate,  variety  of  food,  and  other  effective 
causes,  his  form,  habits,  and  inherited  instincts  may  have 
become  changed;  and  by  an  occasional  cross  with  another 
branch  of  the  family,  similarly  produced,  it  is  possible  to 
conceive  that  the  theory  of  Buff  on  ^  may  be  approximately 
correct.  The  well-known  susceptibility  of  the  dog  to  varia- 
tions in  breeding  is  also  a  confirmation  of  the  theory;  and 
it  is  easy  to  account  for  the  changes  in  his  instincts,  as  now 
manifested,  on  the  theory  that  these  have  become  fixed  and 
confirmed,  in  each  variety,  by  the  uses  to  which  they  have 
been  severally  devoted. 

However  this  may  be,  the  history  of  the  world,  from 
the  very  earliest  period,  informs  us  of  the  existence  of  the 

7  (97) 


\ 


98  THE   AMERICAN   BOOK    OF   THE   DOG. 

dog  as  a  companion  and  associate  of  man.  On  ancien^ 
Egyptian  monuments  is  often  seen  the  figure  of  an  animal 
very  much  resembling  the  Pointer  of  to-day;  and  other 
ancient  works  of  art,  both  of  sculpture  and  painting,  as 
well  as  family  records,  justify  the  belief  that  the  dog,  in  a 
domesticated  state,  was  contemporaneous  with  the  very 
dawn  of  civilization  itself . 

Regarding  the  origin  of  the  Pointer,  much  conjecture 
has  been  indulged  in  by  various  writers  on  the  dog.  No 
two  of  the  early  authors  seem  to  agree  entirely  as  to  the 
precise  period  when  the  Pointer  came  into  existence  as 
such,  with  all  his  wonderful  instincts  and  capabilities  fully 
developed.  We  must  probably  seek  for  that  period  in 
those  misty  ages  of  tradition  and  uncertainty  that  mark 
the  origin  of  our  common  law,  and  which  Blackstone  des- 
ignates as  ' '  the  time  whereof  the  memory  of  man  runneth 
not  to  the  contrary." 

The  earliest  printed  work,  in  the  English  language, 
describing  the  various  breeds  of  dogs,  was  a  "Book  of 
Field  Sports,"  written  by  Dame  Juliana  Berners,  prioress 
of  Sopwell  Nunnery,  in  Hertfordshire,  about  the  end  of 
the  fourteenth  century.  In  this  work,  this  lady  says: 
"Thyse  ben  the  names  of  houndes,  fyrste  there  is  a  Gre- 
houn,  a  Bastard,  a  Mengrell,  a  Mastif,  a  Lemor,  a  Spanyel, 
Raches,  Kenettys,  Teroures,  Butchers  Houndes,  Dunghyll 
dogges,  Tryndeltaylles,  and  Pryckeryd  currys,  and  small 
ladyes  poppees  that  bere  awaye  the  flees." 

The  next  work,  in  point  of  antiquity,  referring  to  the 
same  subject,  was  by  Dr.  John  Caius,  physician  to  Queen 
Elizabeth,  published  in*  Latin  in  1576,  and  subsequently 
translated  into  English.  The  classification  of  dogs  in  this 
treatise  was  into  three  varieties,  viz.:  "(1)  A  gentle  kind, 
serving  the  game;  (2)  a  homely  kind,  apt  for  sundry  nec- 
essary uses;  (3)  a  currish  kind,  meet  for  many  toyes."  The 
first  of  these  classes  is  divided  by  Doctor  Caius  into  two 
parts,  viz. :  Venatici,  used  for  hunting  wild  beasts,  and  Au- 
cupatorii,  which  were  employed  in  the  pursuit  of  fowl. 
The  Venatici  were  further  subdivided  into  eight  varieties, 


THE  POINTER.  ^  99 

namely:  Leverarius,  or  Harriers;  Terrarius,  or  Terrars; 
Sanguinarius,  or  Bloodhounds;  Agaseus,  or  Gasehounds; 
Leporarius,  or  Greliounds;  Lorarius,  or  Lyemmer;  Yerti- 
gus,  or  Tumbler,  and  Canis  furax,  or  Stealer.  The  dogs 
used  for  fowling,  or  Aucupatorii,  were  divided  into  two 
classes,  viz.:  Index,  or  Setter,  and  Aquaticus,  or  Spaniell 
—probably  drawing  a  distinction  between  the  Land  and 
Water  Spaniel. 

In  these  ancient  treatises,  we  find  no  mention  made  of 
the  Pointer  by  name,  and  for  that  reason  many  writers 
have  assumed  that  he  had  no  distinct  existence  at  that  time. 
But  this  assumption  is  not  necessarily  a  correct  one;  for 
the  Pointer  may  have  existed  in  Spain  or  England  under 
another  name,  even  before  that  period,  as  a  species  of 
Hound,  Lemor,  Lurcher,  or  even  a  short-haired  Spaniel.  In 
this  case,  the  name  "Pointer,"  which  was  used  by  the 
Swedish  naturalist,  Linnaeus  [1707-1778],  in  his  classifica- 
tion of  animals  ("Canis  Avicularis " ),  does  not  necessarily 
carry  with  it  a  lack  of  early  origin.  The  names  of  dogs 
were  used  interchangeably  in  early  days;  the  nomenclature 
was  far  from  uniform  and  fixed,  and  the  writer  is  by  no 
means  certain  that  the  word  Spaniel  might  not  at  that  time 
have  included  the  dog  subsequently  known  as  the  Pointer, 
as  well  as  that  afterward  called  the  Setter. 

This  view  finds  further  confirmation  by  reference  to  a 
work  known  as  "The  Gentleman's  Recreation,"  published 
by  Nicholas  Cox  in  1697,  in  which  that  author  writes  of  the 
Setter  as  follows:  '  *  The  dog  which  you  elect  for  setting  must 
have  a  perfect  and  good  scent,  and  be  naturally  addicted 
to  the  hunting  of  feathers;  and  this  dog  may  be  either 
Land  Spaniel,  Water  Spaniel,  or  mongrel  of  them  both; 
either  the  shallow-flewed  Hound,  Tumbler,  Lurcher,  or  small 
bastard  Mastiff."  By  this  it  will  be  seen  that  the  status  of 
the  Setter  itself  was  not  clearly  established  as  late  as  the 
year  1700 — several  of  the  dogs  named  above  being  likewise 
short-haired,  like  the  Pointer  of  to-day. 

A  very  ingenious  argument  has  been  adduced  by  certain 
writers,  tending  to  prove  that  the  modern  Pointer  is  a 


100  THE  AMERICAN   BOOK   OF   THE   DOG. 

descendant  of  the  dog  known  in  English  literature  as  the 
"Brach,"  which  is  supposed  to  have  been  introduced  into 
England  during  the  Norman  invasion,  in  the  eleventh 
century;  and  such  may  possibly  be  the  case,  but  the  fact 
has  never  been  sufficiently  verified.  The  Braque  is  one  of 
the  varieties  of  pointing  dogs  used  in  France,  and  was 
formerly  known  under  that  name,  with  varied  orthography, 
in  Spain,  Portugal,  Italy,  and  Germany. 

Our  American  lexicographers  deline  "  brach  "  as  u  a  bitch 
of  the  Hound  kind,"  and  give  Shakespeare  [1564-1616]  as 
their  authority.  Worcester  also  gives  the  definition  of  "a 
Pointer,  or  setting  dog,"  and  also  uses  Shakespeare  as 
authority  for  that.  Richardson,  in  his  dictionary,  defines 
" brach"  to  mean  ua  kind  of  short-tailed  setting  dog, 
ordinarily  spotted  or  parti-colored." 

It  must  also  be  borne  in  mind  +hat  the  word  "hound," 
which  is  given  as  one  of  the  earliest  varieties  of  dogs,  by 
different  writers,  signifies  simply  "a  dog"  in  Anglo-Saxon, 
or  Old  English,  and  also  in  German;  so  that  one  of  the 
varieties  of  Hounds  existing  so  early  in  England  may  have 
been  the  "  Brach,"  or  pointing  bird-dog;  and  it  is  just  pos- 
sible that  the  Spanish  Pointer  (or  Braco)  may  have  been 
crossed  with  the  English  varieties  of  the  Brach  family  to 
produce  certain  strains  of  the  modern  Pointer.  Aldrovan- 
dus,  a  celebrated  Italian  naturalist  of  the  sixteenth  century, 
gives  the  colors  of  the  Brach  as  black,  white,  and  fulvous, 
or  brownish-yellow,  the  color  similar  to  that  of  the  spotted 
lynx  (ticks),  being  most  sought  after — as  appears  in  the 
Dalmatian  Pointer  (or  coach-dog),  and  so  often  in  popular 
strains  of  the  modern  Pointer.  A  French  encyclopedia 
also  gives  the  following  definition  of  the  Braque :  ' '  The 
Braque,  or  pointing  dog,  is  ordinarily  of  a  white  color, 
ticked  with  liver  or  black;  his  ears  are  long  and  pendent, 
and  his  muzzle  somewhat  large  and  long." 

Sir  Walter  Scott  [1771-1832],  in  several  of  his  works, 
makes  reference  to  the  Brach  in  his  description  of  hunting- 
scenes;  so  that,  in  view  of  all  the  facts,  it  is  not  beyond 
the  realm  of  reasonable  conjecture  that  a  short-haired 


THE   POINTER.  101 

pointing  dog,  closely  resembling  the  modern  Pointer  in 
form  and  color,  existed  in  England  prior  to  the  advent  of 
the  Spanish  Pointer,  and  may  have  been  utilized  in  the 
breeding  development  of  our  present  excellent  varieties  of 
the  Pointer  family. 

In  this  connection,  it  may  prove  interesting  to  the 
reader  to  consider  the  question  of  the 

COMPARATIVE  ANTIQUITY  OF  THE  SETTER  AND  POINTER. 

In  touching  upon  this  subject,  it  must  be  remarked  that 
much  discussion  has  taken  place  among  sportsmen  regard- 
ing the  question  of  origin  and  antiquity  of  these  two  valu- 
able breeds.  Some  writers  have  firmly  maintained  that  the 
Setter  is  clearly  indebted  to  the  Pointer  for  his  existence 
as  such;  while  others  have,  with  equal  force  of  logic  and 
skill  of  rhetoric,  maintained  the  exact  opposite  to  be  the 
case.  These  discussions  have  usually  been  carried  on  by  the 
respective  friends  of  each  breed,  oftentimes  with  considera- 
ble virulence.  The  writer,  being  a  firm  friend  of  both  of 
these  noble  varieties  of  dogs,  Avill  endeavor  to  present  the 
question  in  as  clear  and  impartial  a  manner  as  possible. 

All  recognized  authorities  on  the  dog,  unite  in  ascribing 
an  early  existence  to  that  one  known  as  the  Spaniel.  They 
also  agree  in  the  opinion  that  the  name  was  conferred  upon 
this  variety  because  it  originated  in  Spain,  from  whence  it 
was  brought  into  Great  Britain.  The  exact  date  of  the 
importation  of  the  Spaniel  is  not  known;  nor  do  we  know 
what  his  appearance  and  character  were  at  the  time.  He 
may  have  been  a  short-haired  dog  when  first  introduced  into 
England,  and  the  climate  may  have  subsequently  induced 
the  growth  of  his  protective  coat ;  or  he  may  have  originally 
been  a  long-haired  dog. 

Doctor  Caius  classifies  them  into  Land  and  Water 
Spaniels,  and  says  of  them,  whether  used  for  the  hawk,  the 
net,  the  falcon,  pheasant,  or  partridge : 

The  common  sort  of  people  call  them  by  one  generall  word,  namely. 
SpanielK  As  though  those  kiude  of  dogges  came  originally  and  first  of  all 

out  of  Spain. 


102  THE   AMERICAN   BOOK   OF   THE   DOG. 

However  that  may  be,  there  is  little  question  that  the 
Spaniel  is  one  of  the  immediate  ancestors  of  the  dog  now 
known  as  the  Setter.  This  name  was  early  given  to  him 
because  he  had  been  trained  to  crawl  cautiously  upon  the 
birds,  and  when  he  had  gotten  near  enough  to  locate  them, 
to  set  or  crouch,  permitting  his  owner  to  draw  a  net  over 
him,  and  the  birds  as  well.  This  was  done  as  early  as  1576, 
when  Dr.  John  Caius  wrote,  and  is  clearly  described  in  his 
book,  to  which  reference  has  previously  been  made. 

Gervase  Markham,  the  author  of  "Hunger's  Prevention, 
or  the  Art  of  Fowling,"  which  was  published  in  1655,  under 
the  heading,  "What  a  Setting  Dog  is,"  says  : 

You  shall  then  understand  that  a  setting  dogge  is  a  certain  lusty  Land 
Spauiell  taught  by  nature  to  hunt  the  partridges  before,  and. more  than  any 

other  chase  whatsoever When  he  is  come  even  to  the  very 

place  where  his  prey  is,  and  hath,  as  it  were,  his  nose  over  it,  so  that  it  seems 
he  may  take  it  up  at  his  owne  pleasure,  yet  is  his  temperance  and  obedience  so 
made  and  framed  by  arte  that  presently,  even  on  a  sudden,  he  either  stands 
still  or  falles  downe  flatte  upon  his  belly,  without  daring  once  to  open  his 
mouth,  or  make  any  noyse  or  motion  at  all,  till  that  his  master  come  unto 
him,  and  then  proceedes  in  all  things  according  to  his  directions  and  command- 
ments. 

In  further  confirmation  of  the  fact  that  the  original 
Setter  was  a  Spaniel,  Mr.  Daniel,  in  his  "Rural  Sports," 
has  preserved  a  document,  dated  in  the  year  1685,  in  which 
one  John  Harris  agrees,  for  the  consideration  of  ten  shillings, 
to  "well  and  sufficiently  mayntayne  and  keepe  a  Spanile 
Bitch  named  Quand,  .  .  .  and  fully  and  effectually 
traine  up  and  teach  the  said  Bitch  to  sitt  Partridges,  Pheas- 
ants, and  other  game,  as  well  and  exactly  as  the  best  sitting 
Dogges  usually  sett  the  same." 

The  first  recorded  importation  of  the  Spanish  Pointer 
(who  is  fully  described  in  a  subsequent  chapter)  into  Great 
Britain  was  about  the  year  1600.  At  that  time,  the  setting 
dog,  as  we  have  seen,  might  have  belonged  to  several  differ- 
ent breeds.  Shooting  with  fire-arms  came  into  common 
practice,  among  the  gentry,  about  the  same  period,  and 
seemed  to  call  the  Pointer  into  use  as  a  dog  who  would 
indicate  the  place  where  the  birds  lay,  while  standing  erect, 


THE   POINTER.  103 

instead  of  crouching,  as  the  setting  dog  did.  For  a  long 
time,  therefore,  the  pointing  dog  was  the  fashion  among 
sportsmen,  and  the  setting  dog  fell  into  disuse.  After 
awhile,  however,  sportsmen  began  to  use  the  setting  Spaniel 
to  shoot  over,  notwithstanding  his  sudden  drop  and  point 
made  it  difficult  to  see  him  in  cover,  turnips,  wheat, 
standing  clover,  furze,  or  ling. 

A  little  later  still,  we  find  the  Setter  dog  standing  up  to 
his  work  like  the  Pointer.  By  what  process  this  result 
was  accomplished,  whether  by  the  gradual  education  and 
development  of  the  Setting  Spaniel,  or  by  a  Pointer  cross, 
is  a  question  that  has  never  yet  been  finally  settled. 

Doubtless  there  may  have  been  early  strains  of  Setters 
that  were  kept  comparatively  free  from  alien  blood,  in  the 
gradual  process  of  development  from  the  Setting  Spaniel. 
On  the  other  hand,  there  is  most  excellent  authority  for 
believing  that  many  strains  were  greatly  aided  'and  im- 
proved by  the  introduction  of  Pointer  blood.  On  this  point, 
it  will  be  well,  probably,  to  quote  a  few  authorities,  as  many 
lovers  of  the  Setter  strenuously  adhere  to  the  belief  that 
that  dog  is  purely  an  original  one,  with  no  Pointer  or  other 
alien  blood  in  his  veins. 

The  author  of  the  Sportsman's  Cabinet,  published  in 
1803,  makes  the  following  broad  assertion: 

The  dog  passing  under  this  denomination  [Setter]  is  a  species  of  Pointer, 
originally  produced  by  a  commixture  between  the  Spanish  Pointer  and  the 
larger  breed  of  English  Spaniel. 

Mr.  William  Lort,  one  of  the  prominent  breeders  of  the 
Setter  in  England,  and  a  man  of  recognized  authority  on 
the  question  under  investigation,  has  written  as  follows: 

As  to  the  origin  of  the  Setter,  I  am  not  so  sure  of  the  correctness  of  my  old 
and  valued  friend,  Mr.  H.  Hubert,  when  he  says:  "  There  is  no  doubt  what- 
ever that  a  true  Setter  is  a  pure  strain  of  unmixed  Spaniel  blood,  the  only 
improvement  produced  in  the  breed  arisiug  from  its  judicious  cultivation,"  etc. 
I  am  quite  sure  that  years  ago,  say  from  forty  to  fifty,  it  was  no  uncommon 
thing  to  get  a  dip  of  Pointer  blood  into  the  best  kennels  of  Setters.  Some- 
times it  answered  well,  and  though  for  a  generation  or  two  it  diminished  the 
coat — not  always,  though,  at  the  cost  of  appearance— it  fined  and  strengthened 
the  stern,  giving  life  and  motion  to  it;  and  what,  whether  rightly  or  wrongly, 
in  early  times  was  thought  a  good  deal  of— it  rounded  the  foot. 


104  THE   AMERICAN   BOOK   OF   THE   DOG. 

I  know  how  shocked  some  of  our  modern  breeders  .will  be  at  the  idea  of 
their  favorites  having  in  their  veins  a  drop  of  Pointer  blood.  It  is  well,  per- 
haps, that  it  is  not  generally  known  how  many  fashionable  strains  have  been 
vitiated  with  much  more  objectionable  blood  than  that  of  the  Pointer.  I  have 
seen  Droppers,  yes,  and  dogs  bred  from  Droppers,  possessing  exquisite  powers  of 
scent,  lovely  tempers,  and  great  pace.  I  think  there  is  reason  to  believe  the 
Spaniel  to  be  the  foundation  of  our  present  Setter. 

As  a  case  showing  that  it  is  possible  for  cross-bred  dogs  to  breed  true,  I 
know  of  a  black  Setter  bitch,  three  crosses  from  Pointer,  belonging  to  Robert 
Warner,  of  Leicester  Abbey.  She  was  good  herself,  having  all  the  qualities 
of  a  pure  Setter,  and  curiously  enough,  she  bred  well  from  either  a  Setter  or 
Pointer.  Mr.  Warner  gave  his  keeper  (who  afterward  came  into  my  service) 
a  brace  of  black  puppies,  by  a  Pointer,  of  this  bitch.  They  looked  all  over 
Pointers,  they  worked  like  Pointers,  they  were  excellent  Pointers,  and  were 
sold,  when  broken,  at  forty  guineas — a  good  price  in  those  days.  I  myself  had 
Setters  from  her,  and  they  were  good  Setters  and  showed  all  Setter  character- 
istics. 

The  above  explicit  statement  was  made  in  a  letter  to 
Mr.  Vero  Shaw;  and  the  latter,  in  his  valuable  work,  the 
"Book  of  the  Dog,"  adds: 

A  strong  confirmation  of  Mr.  Lort's  theory  is  to  be  found  in  the  subjoined 
engraving  from  a  painting  by  the  famous  French  artist,  Alexander  Franyois 
Desportes.  This  great  animal  painter — born  in  1661,  and  died  in  1743 — was 
elected  a  member  of  the  French  Royal  Academy  of  Painting  in  1699,  and  of 
its  Council  in  1704.  For  many  years  he  occupied  the  court  position  of  histori- 
ographer of  the  chase,  created  expressly  for  him  by  Louis  XIV. ;  and  his  pict- 
ures, which  are  very  numerous,  can  har.lly  be  surpassed  for  their  fidelity  to 
Nature.  The  engraving  we  reproduce  from  his  pencil  is  entitled,  "  Dogs  and 
Partridges,"  and  is  valuable  as  distinctly  showing  that  the  Pointer  had  been 
crossed  with  the  Spaniel  before  and  during  his  time,  and  that  the  result  was  a 
dog  very  like  our  modern  Setter. 

Mr.  Shaw,  on  another  page  of  his  work,  also  places  the 
seal  of  his  indorsement  on  the  reasonableness  of  a  theory 
advanced  by  the  well-known  writer,  Elaine,  in  regard  to  the 
conversion  of  the  ancient  Spaniel  into  the  modern  Setter. 
Mr.  Elaine's  suggestion  is  that  a  cross  with  one  of  the 
celeres,  or  swift-footed  dogs,  was  resorted  to,  and  that  the 
Pointer  is  probably  a  cross  between  the  Spaniel  and  one  or 
other  of  the  pugnaces.  Mr.  Youatt,  in  his  valuable  work 
on  the  dog,  also  says:  "It  was  long  the  fashion  to  cross 
and  mix  them  [Setters]  with  the  Pointer." 

As  further  evidence  that  alien  blood  may  have  been  used 
in  establishing  some  strains  of  Setters,  the  following  quo- 


THE   POINTER.  105 

tation  from  one  of  the  works  of  Mr.  Tolfrey,  author  of 
" The  Sportsman  in  France,"  "The  Sportsman  in  Ireland 
and  Scotland,"  and  "The  Sportsman  in  Canada,"  is  given, 
it  being  his  recipe  for  making  a  strain  of  Setters: 

The  preliminary  step,  is  to  put  a  fine-bred  and  unexceptionable  Pointer 
bitch  to  a  noted  Foxhound ;  you  will  then  have  laid  the  foundation  of  three 
essential  qualities — speed,  nose,  and  courage.  Docility  and  sagacity  are  also 
requisites,  and  to  obtain  them,  cross  the  offspring  with  the  small  and  slender 
race  of  Newfoundland  dog.  The  produce  will  be  as  near  perfection  as 
possible;  they  will  take  to  the  water,  retrieve,  and  for  general  shooting  will 
be  found  the  very  best  and  most  useful  animal  the  sportsman  can  desire. 

The  writer  does  not  believe  that  many  breeders  were 
induced  to  follow  the  absurd  process  recommended  by  Mr. 
Tolfrey,  but  simply  presents  that  gentleman's  views  as 
showing  the  tendency  of  the  time  to  cross  and  recross  in 
order  to  bring  the  Setter  up  to  a  certain  standard. 

In  the  light  of  all  this  authentic  history,  it  is  difficult  to 
arrive  at  any  other  conclusion  than  that  the  modern  Setter 
and  Pointer  are  both  the  results  of  judicious  selection, 
breeding,  and  crossing — the  Pointer,  as  will  be  seen  later, 
bearing  the  same  relation  to  the  old  Spanish  Pointer,  here- 
inafter described,  as  the  Setter  does  to  the  original  Setting 
Spaniel.  Without  doubt,  other  dashes  of  alien  blood  have 
been  infused  into  certain  strains  of  each  variety,  and  certain 
strains  may  be  stronger  in  Spaniel  and  Spanish  blood  than 
others;  but  the  fact  remains  the  same,  that  both  of  these 
valuable  varieties  of  dogs  have  been  built  up  by  scientific 
crossing.  This  being  the  case,  it  is  neither  necessary  nor 
important  to  inquire  into  the  antiquity  of  the  respective 
ancestors  of  each.  Neither  can  with  certainty  be  accorded 
precedence  in  point  of  age. 

The  present  dog,  of  either  variety,  breeds  true  to  type, 
reproduces  himself  in  form,  color,  qualities,  and  intellect- 
ual traits,  and  is  none  the  less  valuable,  in  the  opinion  of 
the  writer,  because  certain  judicious  drafts  have  been  made 
on  other  families  of  dogs  to  improve  his  natural  qualities, 
and  the  better  to  adapt  him  to  the  uses  for  which  he  is 
intended. 


106  THE  AMERICAN   BOOK    OF   THE   DOG. 

Owing  to  the  constant  experimentation  in  the  breeding 
of  our  canine  friends  for  hundreds  of  years  (and  even  at  the 
present  time),  it  would  seem  absurd,  to  the  thinking, 
intelligent  reader,  to  claim  any  breed  of  dogs  as  the  only 
great  and  original  creation.  Education,  climate,  food, 
infusion  of  new  blood,  domestication— which  corresponds 
to  civilization  in  man — have  done  as  much  for  the  canine 
as  they  have  for  the  human  family.  And  it  is  perhaps 
well  for  the  whole  race  of  dogs  that  outside  blood  has,  at 
times,  been  sought  for  and  obtained,  and  the  deteriorating 
effects  of  too  close  inbreeding  thereby  happily  averted. 
Mr.  Laverack  has  himself  confessed  that  at  one  time  he  lost 
many  of  his  dogs  by  too  continuously  breeding-in  his  strain; 
and  he  not  only  admits  that  he  once  infused  a  valuable  dash 
of  liver-and- white  blood,  from  the  North  of  England,  into 
his  kennels,  but  that  he  made  two  separate  visits  to  Ireland 
for  the  purpose  of  looking  up  a  suitable  Irish  dog  to  use 
for  a  similar  purpose. 

THE   OLD    SPANISH   POINTER. 

Notwithstanding  the  uncertainty  that  exists  regarding 
the  time  when  the  Spanish  Pointer  was  first  introduced 
into  England,  there  seems  to  be  a  general  consensus  of 
opinion  that  the  year  1600  is  about  the  period  that  marks 
his  advent  under  that  name.  The  dog  known  as  the  ' '  Old 
Spanish  Pointer''  was  the  representative  of  the  type  at 
that  time,  and  has  been  described  by  Sydenham  Edwards, 
in  "  Cynographia  Britannica"  (1805),  as  follows: 

The  Spanish  Pointer  is  a  heavy,  loose-made  dog,  about  twenty-two 
inches  high,  bearing  no  small  resemblance  to  the  slow  Southern  Hound. 
Head  large,  indented  between  the  eyes;  lips  large  and  pendulous;  ears  thin, 
loose,  and  hanging  down,  of  a  moderate  length;  coat  short  and  smooth;  color, 
dark-brown  or  liver-color,  liver-color-and- white,  red-and-white,  black,  black- 
and-white,  sometimes  tanned  about  the  face  and  eyes,  often  thickly  speckled 
with  small  spots  on  a  white  ground;  the  tail  thin,  smooth,  and  wiry;  frequently 
dew-claws  upon  the  hind  legs;  the  hind  feet  often  turning  a  little  outward. 

The  Spanish  Pointer  was  introduced  into  this  country,  by  a  Portugese 

.merchant,  at  a  very  modern  period,  and  was  first  used  by  an  old  reduced  baron 

of  the  name  of  Bichell,  who  lived  in  Norfolk,  and  could  shoot  flying;  indeed, 

he  seems  to  have  lived  by  his  gun,  as  the  game  he  killed  was  sold  in  the  London 


THE   POINTER.  107 

market.  This  valuable  acquisition  from  the  Continent  was  wholly  unknown 
to  our  ancestors,  together  with  the  art  of  shooting  flying;  but  so  fond  are  we 
become  of  this  most  elegant  of  field  sports,  that  we  now  excel  all  others  in  the 
use  of  the  gun,  and  in  the  breeding  and  training  of  the  dog. 

The  Spanish  Pointer  possesses,  in  a  high  degree,  the  sense  of  scenting, 
so  that  he  very  rarely  or  never  goes  by  his  game  when  in  pursuit  of  it ;  requires 
very  little  training  to  make  him  stanch — most  of  them  standing  the  first  time 
they  meet  with  game;  and  it  is  no  uncommon  occurrence  for  puppies  of  three 
months  old  to  stand  at  poultry,  rabbits,  and  even  cats.  But  as  they  grow  old 
they  are  apt  to  get  idle,  and  often  go  over  their  ground  on  a  trot,  instead  of 
galloping;  and  from  their  loose  make  and  slowness  of  foot,  wThen  hunted  a 
few  seasons,  soon  tire,  have  recourse  to  cunning,  and  in  company  let  the 
younger  and  fleeter  dogs  beat  wide  the  fields,  whilst  they  do  little  more  than 
back  them,  or  else  make  false  points.  They  then  become  useless  but  for  hunt- 
ing, singly,  with  a  sportsman  who  is  not  able  or  not  inclined  to  follow  the 
faster  dogs. 

There  are  other  varieties  of  the  Pointer,  as  the  Russian,  in  size  and  form 
like  the  Spanish;  coat  not  unlike  a  drover's  dog,  rough  and  shaggy,  rough 
about  the  eyes,  and  bearded;  color  like  the  Spanish,  but  often  grizzle-and- 
white;  they  differ  in  coat,  some  being  more  rough  than  others.  This  is  probably 
a  cross  between  the  Spanish  Pointer  and  the  Barbet,  or  rough  water  dog.  He  has 
an  excellent  nose,  is  sagacious,  tractable,  and  easily  made  stanch;  endures 
fatigue  tolerably  well,  takes  water  readily,  and  is'  not  incommoded  by  the  most 
cold  and  wet  weather. 

To  this  description  of  the  Spanish  Pointer,  by  an  early 
authority,  may  be  added  that  of  Mr.  Taplin,  at  the  opening 
of  the  present  century : 

Every  fact  upon  record  respecting  their  appearance  in  England  is  that 
they  were,  in  very  early  ages,  introduced  from  Spain,  and  that  they  were 
natives  of  that  country  from  which  their  name  was  derived.  .  .  .  The 
Pointer  of  this  description  is  short  in  the  head,  broad  in  the  forehead, 
wide  in  the  nose,  expansive  in  the  nostrils,  simply  solicitous  in  aspect,  heavy 
in  the  shoulders,  short  in  the  legs,  almost  circular  in  the  form  of  the  car- 
cass, square  upon  the  back,  strong  across  the  loins,  and  remarkably  so  in  the 
hind  quarters.  Although  this  breed,  like  the  English  Pointer  (by  the  many 
collateral  aids  so  much  improved),  are  produced  of  various  colors,  yet  the 

bold  brown,  liver-and-white,  are  the  most  predominant The 

Pointer  we  are  now  treating  of,  though  exceedingly  slow,  must  be  generally 
admitted  to  be  sure;  indefatigable  and  minute  in  his  researches,  he  is  rarely 
seen  to  miss  his  game  when  game  is  to  be  found.  When  a  covey  of  birds  is 
separated,  by  repeated  shots,  and  are  afterward  found  singly,  the  Pointer 
under  description  has  opportunity  to  display  his  best  ability  in  most  indus- 
triously recovering  these  scattered  birds,  the  major  part  of  which  (if  accom- 
panied by  a  good  shot)  are  generally  picked  up  to  a  certainty.  To  the 
recovery  of  winged  birds,  the  patient  perseverance  of  this  dog  is  peculiarly 


108  THE   AMERICAN   BOOK   OF  THE   DOG. 

adapted;  and  for  the  sport  of  snipe-shooting  alone  they  are  entitled  to  the 
preference  of  every  other. 

The  Russian  branch  of  this  family  of  dogs  is  said  to 
strongly  resemble  the  later  Russian  Setter,  and  many  good 
authorities  consider  them  almost  identical.  It  is  not  appro- 
priate here  to  enter  into  any  extended  description  of  the 
Russian  Setter,  further  than  to  say  that  he  is  considered  a 
very  superior  dog  on  game,  and  that  several  dashes  of  his 
blood  have  been  infused,  with  benefit,  into  some  strains 
of  our  modern  Setters. 

The  German  Pointer  is  a  heavy-set,  large-boned  dog,  with 
prominent  news,  and  considerable  throatiness;  generally 
liver  or  liver-and-white  in  color,  though  not  always.  He  is 
believed  to  be  particularly  strong  in  the  blood  of  the  Span- 
ish Pointer,  and  his  slow  but  sure  methods  of  hunting  con- 
firm the  belief.  He  is  extensively  used  in  Germany,  and  as 
an  all-around  game  dog  has  few  superiors.  There  are  two 
varieties  of  this  useful  dog,  the  Smooth-coated  and  the 
Rough-coated — the  latter  probably  being  akin  to  the  Rus- 
sian Pointer,  above  referred  to.  With  reference  to  these 
dogs,  we  quote  the  following  letter,  recently  published  in 
the  American  Field,  and  written  by  a  prominent  German 
sportsman: 

Our  dogs  must  have  a  different  training  from  the  dog  used  by  sportsmen 
in  England  or  America.  We  can  not  successfully  hunt  here  with  the  Pointer 
or  Setter.  We  need  dogs — Oebrauchshunde — adapted  to  all  purposes,  a  sort  of 
an  all-round  dog.  This  rule  especially  applies  to  the  Government  forester,  who 
is  compelled  to  be  out  in  the  forest  every  day  in  the  year,  and  whose  dog  must 
not  only  be  insensible,  in  a  high  degree,  to  all  temperatures,  but  must  also,  in  case 
of  need,  render  assistance  to  his  master  against  game-sneakers,  who  frequently 
are  a  dangerous  class  of  men,  and  often  make  a  murderous  attack  on  the  officer 
wrhen  he  interferes  with  their  unlawful  pursuits. 

English  Pointers  and  Setters  are  the  acknowledged  champion  bird  dogs, 
but  very  few  of  them  can  be  trained  to  retrieve  a  hare  or  fox  at  a  great  dis- 
tance, or  to  bring  a  duck  out  of  the  cold  water  and  through  thick  weeds,  or  to 
follow  the  trail  of  a  wounded  stag  or  roebuck. 

Yet  a  hunting  dog  in  this  country  must  combine  all  these  qualities.  He  is 
expected  to  have  a  good  nose,  to  search  the  field  all  day,  in  the  hot  month  of 
August,  for  partridges,  and  make  a  firm  stand  when  he  finds  them;  lie  must 
work  in  water  for  ducks,  in  warm  or  cold  weather;  he  must  follow  a  wounded 
hare  or  fox,  when  brought  on  the  trail,  for  miles,  and  retrieve  the  game  the 


C109) 


110  THE  AMERICAN   BOOK   OF   THE   DOG. 

same*  distance.  He  must  never  hesitate  to  attack  and  kill  a  wounded  fox,  otter, 
marten,  etc.;  must  pull  down  a  wounded  roebuck,  or,  if  he  finds  the  roebuck 
or  stag  dead,  commence  to  bark,  and  continue  to  do  so  until  his  master  is  at  his 
side. 

If  he  follows  his  master  stalking,  he  must  never  advance  a  foot  ahead  of 
him,  must  "drop"  when  winked  to  do  so,  and  remain  "down"  until  com- 
manded to  come,  even  if  his  master  remains  away  for  hours,  and  meanwhile 
has  repeatedly  fired  at  game. 

We  have  several  breeds  of  dogs:  The  German  Pointer,  German  Setter, 
and  the  Rough-coated  German  Pointer,  which,  if  properly  trained,  will  acquire 
the  perfection  in  question. 

Of  late,  the  Rough-coated  Pointer — of  one  of  which,  Ratiz  (No.  3201  Ger- 
man Dog  Register),  I  herewith  furnish  you  an  illustration — is  one  of  the  most 
favorite  sporting  dogs  in  this  country.  Ratiz  is  owned  by  Korthals,  stands 
twenty-six  inches  at  the  shoulder,  and  is  bluish-gray  mixed  with  brown.  The 
structure  of  his  body  resembles  closely  the  German  Pointer;  his  coat  of  hair 
resembles  that  of  the  griffon.  He  is  the  connecting  link  between  these  two 
breeds  of  dogs,  and  may  have  originated  from  one  or  the  other,  or  perhaps  may 
be  considered  a  cross-breed  of  the  two. 

The  Rough-coated  Pointer  is  not  equaled  by  any  dog  in  endurance  and 
his  insensibility  to  changes  of  temperature.  His  nose  is  almost  as  good  as 
that  of  the  finest  English  Pointer;  and  his  retrieving  qualities,  his  courage, 
are  simply  marvelous.  Frequently,  one  of  these  dogs,  when  on  the  trail  of  a 
slightly  wounded  fox,  svill  follow  Reynard  for  miles,  kill  him,  and  return 
with  him  to  his  master.  He  will  battle  with  a  wounded  otter  in  the  water, 
and  either  go  down  with  the  latter  or  bring  it  on  land.  He  will  bay  a  wounded 
stag  and  pull  him  down  if  he  get  the  favorable  opportunity.  He  will  quietly, 
and  with  no  sign  of  discomfort,  lie  down  in  front  or  at  the  side  of  his  master, 
in  snow,  and  await  developments. 

We  have  two  celebrated  kennels  of  Rough-coated  Pointers  in  this  country, 
the  Korthals  and  the  Bontant. 

The  most  popular  color  of  the  Rough-coated  Pointer  is  a  bluish-gray  or 
faint  brown.  Light  colors  are  at  u  discount,  since  a  white  dog  in  this  country 
is  too  good  an  object  to  notice  for  the  larger  game,  and  the  weeds  in  the  open 
field  are  never  too  high  for  the  gunner  to  keep  his  dog  constantly  in  sight. 

I  also  inclose  a  portrait  of  one  of  the  finest  and  best  short-haired  German 
Pointers,  and  the  favorite  dog  of  the  German  Emperor.  Waldin  is  of  the  purest 
blood,  with  a  good  pedigree,  is  brown  in  color,  and  was  whelped  July  26, 1884. 
His  nose  is  claimed  to  be  equal  to  that  of  the  best  of  English  thorough-breds. 
His  figure  is  almost  faultless,  and  his  qualities  fir'st-class.  He,  like  most  German 
Pointers,  is  less  nervous  and  restless  than  the  English  Pointers.  He  is  not  a 
one-sided  field-trial  dog,  but  a  dog  for  all  purposes — a  "  Gebmuchshund." 
Waldin  received  his  training  from  one  of  the  best  German  dog-trainers,  and  is 
exercised  continuously  in  the  field  or  forest,  and  thus  is  in  a  uniform  good 
hunting  condition. 

When  the  partridge  season  opens,  and  the  Emperor  enters  the  field  near  Ber- 
lin to  enjoy  the  sport  of  partridge-shooting,  Waldin  is  always  present,  and  the 
Emperor  follows  with  delight  the  fine  work  of  this  dog. 


(Ill) 


112  THE  AMERICAN   BOOK   OF  THE  DOG. 

Waldin  has  won  twice  the  first,  and  once  the  second  prize,  at  the  German 
field  trials.  He  has  been  painted  in  oil  by  Sperling,  the  celebrated  German 
artist,  eminent  for  animal  painting,  of  whose  skill  the  accompanying  illustration 
is  only  a  faint  sample. 

. 

THE  ENGLISH    POINTER, 

Following  close  upon  the  Spanish  Pointer  appeared  the 
English  Pointer,  which  is  generally  acknowledged  to  be  the 
result  of  a  cross,  either  of  the  Spanish  Pointer  and  the 
Southern  Hound,  or  Brach,  or  of  the  former  and  the  Fox- 
hound. The  burden  of  authority  seems  to  favor  the  latter 
hypothesis.  As  field  sports  gradually  became  popular,  and 
the  art  of  shooting  on  the  wing  more  generally  known,  game 
became  somewhat  scarcer  and  more  wary,  and  the  old 
Spanish  Pointer,  with  his  slow,  methodical  ways  and  potter- 
ing style,  came  into  disfavor.  More  dash,  speed,  and  range 
were  required,  even  at  the  sacrifice  of  a  certain  degree  of 
stability  and  stanchness,  and  sportsmen  began  to  look 
around  for  an  infusion  of  blood  that  would  add  the  desira- 
ble qualities,  with  the  least  sacrifice  of  the  old  and  valued 
traits  of  character. 

Sydenham  Edwards,  speaking  of  the  improved  Pointer, 
in  1800,  thus  writes  : 

The  sportsman  has  improved  the  breed  by  selecting  the  lightest  and  gayest 
individuals,  and  by  judicious  crosses  with  the  Foxhound,  to  procure  courage 
and  fleetness.  From  the  great  attention  thus  paid,  has  resulted  the  present 
elegant  dog,  of  valuable  and  extensive  properties,  differing  much  from  the 
original  parent,  but  with  some  diminution  of  his  instinctive  powers.  He  may 
thus  be  described  :  Light,  strong,  well-formed,  and  very  active;  about  twenty- 
two  inches  high;  head  small  and  straight;  lips  and  ears  small,  short,  and  thin; 
coat  short  and  smooth,  commonly  spotted  or  flecked  upon  a  white  ground, 
sometimes  wholly  white;  tail  thin  and  wiry,  except  when  crossed  with  the 
Setter  or  Foxhound,  then  a  little  brushed. 

This  dog  possesses  great  gayety  and  courage,  travels  in  a  grand  manner, 
quarters  his  ground  with  rapidity,  and  scents  with  acuteness;  gallops  with  his 
haunches  rather  under  him,  his  head  and  tail  up;  of  strength  to  endure  any 
fatigue,  and  an  invincible  spirit.  But  with  these  qualifications  he  has  concomi- 
tant disadvantages.  His  high  spirit  and  eagerness  for  the  sport  render  him 
intractable,  and  extremely  difficult  of  education;  his  impatience  in  company 
subjects  him  to  a  desire  to  be  foremost  in  the  points,  and  not  give  time  for  the 
sportsman  to  come  up — to  run  in  upon  che  game,  particularly  down  wind;  but 


THE   POINTEK.  113 

if  these  faults  can  be  overcome  in  training,  if  he  can  be  made  stanch  in 
standing,  drawing,  and  backing,  and  to  stop  at  the  voice,  or  token  of  the  hand, 
he  is  highly  esteemed;  and  those  who  arrive  at  such  perfection  in  this  country 
bring  amazing  prices.  .  .  . 

The  most  judicious  cross  appears  to  have  been  with  the  Foxhound,  and 
by  this  has  been  acquired  speed  and  courage,  power  and  perseverance;  and  its 
disadvantage,  difficulty  of  training  them  to  be  stanch.  I  believe  the  cele- 
brated Colonel  Thornton  first  made  this  cross;  and  from  his  producing  excellent 
dogs,  it  has  been  very  generally  followed. 

The  foregoing  description  of  the  origin  of  the  modern 
English  Pointer  is  confirmed  by  other  early  writers,  and  is 
generally  believed  to  be  accurate.  Among  the  early  products 
of  this  cross  were  many  dogs  possessed  of  double  noses — a 
deep  fissure  in  the  center  of  the  nose  completely  dividing 
the  nostrils;  but  the  superstition  that  such  animals  were 
possessed  of  keener  scenting  powers  than  others,  has  long 
since  passed  away,  and  such  a  manifestation  is  now  con- 
sidered a  great  defect. 

That  a  cross  between  the  Spanish  Pointer  and  the  Fox- 
hound was  made  in  France  as  early  as  the  year  1700,  is 
explicitly  proven  by  another  painting  by  Desportes,  also 
published  in  Vero  Shaw's  book,  and  made  about  that  period, 
wherein  are  shown  two  dogs  clearly  illustrating  the  cross 
of  the  Pointer  with  the  Hound. 

Besides  the  Foxhound,  other  families  of  dogs  are  said 
to  have  been  drawn  upon  by  early  breeders,  to  introduce 
certain  qualities  that  were  esteemed  desirable.  For  the 
purpose  of  obtaining  more  speed  and  lightness  of  movement, 
the  Greyhound  cross  is  said  to  have  been  resorted  to  by 
some  breeders,  although  it  is  difficult  to  conceive  how  a  dog 
that  hunts  by  sight  instead  of  scent  could  greatly  improve 
the  breed. 

The  Bulldog  cross  is  also  said  to  have  been  employed  to 
give  stamina  and  courage  to  the  product  of  the  Greyhound 
cross;  but  neither  of  them  are  believed  to  have  been  fol- 
lowed up  to  any  great  extent.  The  cross  with  the  Fox- 
hound was  probably  the  most  effectual  and  beneficial  in  its 
results,  and  such  may  be  considered  to  have  been  the  foun- 
dation of  our  modern  strains  of  Pointers. 


114  THE  AMERICAN   BOOK    OF   THE   DOG. 

THE    DEVELOPMENT   OF    THE    ENGLISH   POINTER, 

When  the  improved  Pointer  first  began  to  be  the  fashion 
in  England  among  sportsmen,  the  Duke  of  Kingston  had 
the  reputation  of  possessing  one  of  the  finest  strains;  and 
after  his  death,  his  dogs  were  sold  for  what  were  considered 
enormous  prices  in  those  days.  Subsequently,  the  breed 
deteriorated  somewhat,  because  of  a  too  rash  use  of  Grey- 
hound blood  to  secure  speed,  and  ghastly -looking  dogs  bore 
the  name  of  Pointers,  possessing  but  few  of  the  natural 
qualities  of  that  noble  dog,  and  being  defective  in  pluck, 
vigor,  and  constitution. 

In  the  early  part  of  the  present  century,  Mr.  Mattingley, 
in  the  North  of  England,  and  Mr.  Webb  Edge,  as  late  as 
1845,  did  a  great  deal  for  the  proper  development  of  the 
breed.  Mr.  Meynell  and  Mr.  Osbaldiston,  together  with 
Lord  Derby,  Lord  Lichfield,  Lord  Sefton,  Lord  Stamford, 
Sir  E.  Antrobus,  Mr.  Whitehouse,  Mr.  Comber bache,  Mr. 
Darbyshire,  Lord  Kennedy,  Sir  R.  Sutton,  Sir  R.  Musgrave, 
Mr.  Greene,  R.  J.  Lloyd  Price,  Lord  Berwick,  and  Messrs. 
Pilkington,  Garth,  Brockton,  and  Brierley,  were  also  among 
those  to  whom  the  modern  lovers  of  the  Pointer  owe  the 
deepest  obligations  for  their  intelligent  and  judicious  efforts 
in  his  behalf.  Upon  this  point,  the  Rev.  Thomas  Pearce, 
who,  under  the  pseudonym  of  "  Idstone,"  has  published  one 
of  the  most  lucid,  comprehensive,  and  valuable  of  our  smaller 
works  on  the  dog,  remarks  as  follows : 

As  soon  as  dog-shows  became  general,  several  eminent  dogs  came  to 
the  front,  the  first  celebrity  being  Mr.  Newton's  Ranger,  a  grand  liver-and- 
white  dog  of  the  Edge  kennel  stamp  and  color.  When  the  first  trial  of  dogs 
in  the  field  took  place,  Ranger  had  lost  his  pace,  and  the  chief  distinctions 
were  gained  by  Mr.  Brockton's  Bounce,  liver-and-white,  for  large  dogs,  and 
by  Mr.  Garth's  Jill,  and  Mr.  Whitehouse's  orange-and-white  Hamlet,  for  dogs 
of  less  size.  Amongst  other  dogs  which  acquitted  themselves  well,  were  Mr. 
Swan's  Peter,  a  white  dog  of  exquisite  form,  with  liver  head  and  liver-and- 
white  ears,  and  Mr.  Peter  Jones'  Brag. 

Hamlet  subsequently  gained  great  and  deserved  popularity  by  winning 
the  Bala  sweepstakes,  of  twenty-five  guineas  each,  against  any  dog  that  could  be 
brought  against  him;  although,  from  a  mistake  of  the  judge  in  counting  his 
marks,  much  unpleasantness  ensued — the  real  winner  being  the  Marquis  of 
Huntley's  Young  Kent,  according  to  the  rules  laid  down. 


THE   POINTER.  115 

This  celebrated  dog,  Hamlet,  has  been  one  of  the  most  successful  dogs 
of  the  day,  numbers  of  his  offspring  combining  first-class  form  with  excellent 
stamina  and  nose.  Mr.  Whitehouse's  Hap,  a  dog  of  the  same  color,  excels 
the  old  dog  in  general  outline,  though  in  style  of  working  Hamlet  never 
will  be  surpassed. 

These  orange-and- whites  are  closely  connected  with  Mr.  Lang's  breed; 
Bob,  the  father  of  Hamlet,  having  been  the  property  of  a  Mr.  Gilbert,  who 
had  the  mother  from  Mr.  Lang. 

The  following  are  the  best  specimens  which  have  been  exhibited  of  late 
years  :  Bounce,  the  property  of  Mr.  W.  R.  Brockton,  Farndon,  near  Newark; 
Peter,  Mr.  S.  Swan,  of  Lincoln;  Don,  the  property  of  Mr.  Darbyshire,  Pen- 
dyffryn,  Conway;  Silk,  the  property  of  R.  Garth,  Esq.,  Q.  C.,  Wimbledon; 
Hamlet,  Rap,  and  Nina,  the  property  of  Mr.  Whitehouse,  Ipsley  Court,  War- 
wickshire; Sancho  and  Chang,  Mr.  Francis,  of  Exeter;  Mr.  Richard  Hem- 
ming's  Flake;  and  Mr.  Lloyd  Price,  of  Bala,  possesses  Lady  Alice,  the  General, 
and  many  more;  while  Mr.  Antrobus,  Mr.  Comberbache,  Mr.  H.  Meir,  of  Tun- 
stall,  Mr.  Holford,  and  many  others,  are  celebrated  for  their  breed  of  Pointers. 

For  m  any  years,  Devonshire  has  been  the  great  home  of 
the  Pointer  in  England — Mr.  Francis,  of  Exeter,  and  Mr. 
Sam  Price,  of  Devon,  being  especially  successful  in  produc- 
ing some  fine  representatives  of  the  breed.  One  of  the 
best  dogs  bred  by  the  latter  gentleman  (afterward  owned 
by  R.  J.  Lloyd  Price)  was  Champion  Wagg,  by  Champion 
Sancho,  out  of  Sappho,  whelped  in  March,  1871.  He  was 
liver-and-white  in  color,  weighed  sixty-five  pounds,  and 
made  a  great  record,  both  at  the  field  trials  and  on  the 
bench.  Many  of  our  best  American  dogs  were  also  bred  by 
Mr.  Price,  and  deservedly  assumed  a  high  place  in  this 
country.  Another  great  dog  in  England  was  Sir  R.  Garth's 
Drake,  who  was  purchased,  after  the  death  of  that  gentle- 
man, for  one  hundred  and  fifty  guineas,  and  died  April  22, 
1877.  He  was  by  Rap,  out  of  Doll;  Rap  by  Mr.  Comber- 
bache's  Don  and  Lord  Lichfield's  Jilt,  and  Doll  by  Mr. 
Newton's  Champion  Ranger,  and  Mite,  representing  Lord 
Derby' s  kennels. 

Drake  was  a  fine,  upstanding  liver-and-white  dog,  two 
feet  and  one  inch  at  the  shoulder,  three  feet  from  nose  to 
root  of  tail,  and  weighing  about  sixty -five  pounds.  His 
winnings  on  the  bench,  and  especially  at  the  field  trials, 
have  seldom  if  ever  been  equaled;  and  his  record  as  a  pro- 
ducer of  winners  stands  almost  unrivaled.  He  was  the 


116  THE  AMERICAN   BOOK   OF  THE   DOG. 

sire  of  Dandy  Drake,  Beau,  Mallard,  Romp,  Lucky  Six- 
pence, Gipsy,  Yellow  Drake,  Luck  of  Edenhall,  Tick, 
Lord  Downe's  Bang,  Drake  II.,  Mars,  Grace,  Jill,  Bounce, 
Lord  Derby's  Drake  and  Duchess,  Lord  Lichfield' s  Daisy, 
Barclay  Field's  Riot,  Mr.  Price's  Rose,  Garth's  Mite  II., 
and  many  other  field- trial  and  bench-show  winners.  He  was 
also  the  grandsire  of  Mr.  Field' s  Drake  and  Pride,  and  of 
Mr.  Pilkington's  Garnet  and  Faust,  the  latter  being  im- 
ported to  this  country  at  a  cost  of  $2,250,  and  becoming 
one  of  our  most  valuable  dogs,  and  a  most  excellent  and 
prepotent  sire. 

Another  prominent  Pointer  in  England  was  R.  J.  Lloyd 
Price's  Belle,  a  handsome  liver-and- white  bitch,  bred  in 
1870  by  Lord  Henry  Bentinck,  out  of  Grouse,  by  his 
Ranger.  This  bitch  weighed  fifty-five  pounds,  stood 
twenty-four  inches  at  the  shoulder,  and  measured  three 
feet  two  and  three-quarters  inches  from  nose  to  root  of  tail. 
Her  reputation  is  based  chiefly  on  her  field-trial  perform- 
ances, which  is  very  much  to  her  credit;  and  having  been 
very  successful  in  competition  with  the  Setters,  it  may 
prove  interesting  to  give  a  portion  of  her  record,  which  is 
as  follows: 

County  stakes  for  all -aged  bitches  at  Yaynol  Field 
Trials,  1872,  and  with  Judy,  the  Bangor  stakes  for  Pointer 
braces,  at  the  same  meeting;  county  stakes  for  all-aged 
Pointer  bitches  at  the  National  Pointer  and  Setter  Field 
Trials,  held  at  Combermere,  Shrewsbury,  April  29,  1873; 
and  with  her  daughter,  Grecian  Bend,  the  Acton  Reynald 
stakes  for  Pointer  braces  at  the  same  meeting;  also  at 
the  Grouse  Field  Trials,  1873,  she  won  second,  with  Roman 
Fall,  her  son,  in  the  Penllyn  stakes  for  braces,  August 
13th,  and  first  in  the  Rhiwlas  stakes  for  all-aged  Pointers 
and  Setters,  August  16th,  beating  Mr.  Macdona's  Ranger, 
Mr.  Llewellin's  Countess  and  Flax,  Mr.  Statter's  Rob  Roy, 
and  other  celebrated  animals;  after  which  performance  she 
was  withdrawn  from  public  competition,  and'  used  for 
breeding  purposes  only. 

At  the  Yaynol  Trials  in  1872,  this  wonderful  bitch  made 


THE   POINTER.  117 

a  perfect  score  of  100  points,  on  the  following  basis  of  work: 
Nose,  30;  pace  and  style  of  hunting,  20;  breaking,  20; 
pointing  (style  and  steadiness  in),  15;  backing,  10;  draw- 
ing on  game,  or  reading,  5;  total,  100. 

Belle  was  rather  too  light  in  muzzle  and  head  to  suit 
many  of  our  modern  critics,  and  lacked  heaviness  of  bone 
and  a  certain  coarseness  which  many  later  favorites  have 
possessed;  but  she  represented  a  very  successful  type  and 
weight  of  dog,  of  which  we  have  ourselves  owned  and  shot 
over  many  grand  specimens.  It  is  a  question  whether  a 
resort  to  her  type  might  not  do  away  with  much  of  the 
pottering  and  "  heel- work"  in  which  many  of  the  present 
field-trial  dogs  are  so  expert. 

What  the  Pointer  needs  is  more  dash,  vim,  energy,  love 
of  his  work,  and  less  lumber  to  carry  with  him.  He  needs 
lengthening  out  and  narrowing,  and  less  stockiness  and 
bulkiness  of  form.  The  fact  has  long  ago  been  demonstrated 
that  the  long,  narrow,  deep-chested  dog,  well  ribbed  behind, 
and  properly  set  on  his  legs,  with  a  correspondingly  rakish 
head,  is  the  proper  type  of  dog  to  breed,  for  speed  and 
endurance  combined. 

FIELD   QUALITIES. 

Much  has  been  written  concerning  the  field  qualities  of 
the  Pointer,  especially  when  compared  with  the  Setter;  but 
general  public  sentiment  seems  to  have  accorded  to  him  a 
place  by  no  means  inferior  to  that  of  any  breed  of  sporting 
dogs. 

There  is  no  question  that  for  all  the  purposes  to  which  a 
dog  hunting  to  the  gun  can  be  employed,  the  Pointer  has 
no  superior.  His  excellent  nose,  his  great  stanchness,  his 
power  of  endurance,  and  his  ability  to  go  without  water 
for  a  long  time,  strongly  recommend  his  use  for  general 
shooting.  While  it  may  be  true  that  his  coat  does  not  so 
well  adapt  him  for  constant  use  in  briery  thickets,  and 
rough,  mountainous  countries, '  yet,  per  contra,  this 'very 
shortness  of  coat  constitutes  his  strongest  recommendation 
in  warm  climates,  for  summer  shooting,  or  in  open  sections 


118  THE   AMERICAN   BOOK   OF   THE   DOG. 

of  country,  where  cockle-burs,  sand-fleas,  nettles,  and  other 
pests  which  annoy  the  long-haired  dog,  most  abound. 
On  this  point,  Forester,  in  his  "  Field  Sports,"  says: 

The  Pointer's  skin  becomes  infinitely  tender,  and  his  whole  frame  more 
delicate  and  fine-drawn,  by  high  breeding,  but  so  much  does  he  gain  thereby 
in  pluck  and  courage,  that  I  have  seen  pure-blooded  dogs  of  this  strain 
tearing  away  through  cat-brier  brakes,  literally  bleeding  at  every  pore,  and 
whimpering  with  pain;  while  great,  coarse-bred,  hairy  brutes,  of  six  times  their 
apparent  power  of  frame  and  capacities  of  endurance,  slunk  away  like  curs, 
as  they  were  unable  to  face  the  thorns. 

It  is  also  true  that  the  Pointer's  feet  are  not  so  well 
padded  as  the  Setter's;  but  Nature  seems  to  have  provided 
for  that  by  increasing  the  thickness  and  toughness  of  the 
flesh  and  skin  of  the  foot,  enabling  it  to  stand  a  great 
amount  of  work  before  becoming  tender.  It  must  also  be 
remembered  that  the  round,  compact  foot  of  the  well-bred 
Pointer  is  inherently  stronger  and  more  enduring  than  the 
weak  and  loosely  constructed  hare-foot  of  many  strains  of 
Setters.  Besides,  the  Pointer  has  inherited  the  foot  of  the 
Foxhound,  which  for  a  hundred  years  or  more  has  been 
cultivated  and  developed  to  withstand  hard  usage  and 
constant  wear. 

In  the  field  trials  of  1889,  held  in  Ireland,  under  the 
auspices  of  the  Irish  Setter  Club,  and  on  the  roughest  of 
moors  and  heathery  mountain-sides,  the  Pointer  bitches 
Perdita  and  Mopsa,  and  Devonshire  Lady  and  Sail,  carried 
off  first  and  second  prizes  in  the  Brace  stakes,  and  Mopsa 
the  Champion  Cup,  valued  at  twenty  guineas,  over  some 
of  the  best  Irish  and  English  Setters  in  Ireland — this, 
also,  during  stormy,  raw,  and  most  disagreeable  weather. 
Devonshire  Sail  also  won  the  final  stake  in  the  Derby,  for 
both  Pointers  and  Setters. 

So  far  as  the  field  trials  are  concerned,  the  Pointer  has 
not,  as  a  general  rule,  been  as  successful  as  the  English 
Setter,  because  (1)  he  has  not  been  entered  in  equal  num- 
bers; (2)  so  much  time  and  money  have  not  been  expended 
in  his  development;  and  (3)  because,  as  a  rule,  he  does  not 
start  off  to  his  work  with  the  snap  and  dash  of  the  Setter, 
is  not  at  first  so  wide,  and  extensive  in  his  range,  and  is 


THE   POINTER.  119 

often  beaten  before  he  lias  really  gotten  to  work,  by  his 
more  showy  and  dashing  competitor. 

So  long  as  field  trials  are  conducted  under  artificial 
rules,  thoroughly  at  variance  with  practical  and  continued 
work,  and  so  long  as  the  tendency  to  run  fast  from  the 
word  "go"  is  considered  the  point  of  highest  excellence, 
the  Pointer  may  preferably  be  kept  in  the  background^  for 
the  use  of  those  gentlemen  who  were  not  born  with  wings, 
who  do  not  hunt  jon  horseback,  and  who  require  a  careful, 
moderately  fast  dog,  possessed  of  excellent  nose,  thoroughly 
stanch,  and  capable  of  doing  a  whole  day's  work,  or  more, 
without  tiring. 

It  is  generally  admitted  that  the  Pointer  is  more  natu- 
rally inclined  to  point,  and  at  an  earlier  age,  than  the  Setter; 
that  he  is  more  easily  broken,  more  obedient,  retains  his 
training  longer,  and  endures  punishment  with  greater  forti- 
tude than  the  Setter.  It  is  also  our  observation  and  expe- 
rience, that  the  Pointer  is  fully  as  fond  of  the  water  as  the 
Setter,  and  can  be  as  easily  trained  to  enter  it  for  retriev- 
ing purposes. 

Many  instances  have  been  related  illustrating  the  re- 
markable stanchness  of  the  Pointer.  Pluto  and  Juno, 
Pointers  owned  by  Colonel  Thornton,  an  early  sportsman 
of  England,  are  said  to  have  held  a  point  for  one  hour 
and  a  quarter,  while  being  sketched  by  Mr.  Gilpin,  by 
whom  they  were  afterward  painted  for  their  owner. 

"  Idstone"  tells  us  of  other  Pointers  that  did  not  break 
their  point  for  five  and  twelve  hours,  respectively;  and 
also  relates  the  case  of  another  Pointer,  who,  in  1814,  was 
frozen  to  death  while  on  point,  quoting  as  authority  a  rela- 
tive of  his  own,  who  claims  to  have  witnessed  the  fact, 
while  journeying  from  Leicester  to  Oxford,  during  the 
memorable  frost  of  that  year. 

With  regard  to  the  field  qualities  of  the  modern  Pointer, 
a  great  deal  of  nonsense  has  been  written  by  men  who 
ought  to  have  known  better.  "Frank  Forester"  has  been 
the  means  of  handing  down  a  great  many  fallacies  promul- 
gated by  early  writers,  an^.  has  himself  given  utterance  to 


120  THE  AMERICAN   BOOK   OF  THE   DOG. 

views  regarding  the  Pointer  which  are  as  absurd  as  they  are 
fanciful  and  unreal.  The  fact  is,  that  a  great  deal  that 
is  written  nowadays  concerning  both  the  Setter  and  the 
Pointer  is  but  the  echo  of  ancient  fallacies,  espoused  by 
early  writers,  who"  knew  nothing  of  the  modern  dog,  and 
whose  opinions  are  unsubstantiated  by  practical  experience. 

For  instance,  Dr.  E.  J.  Lewis,  who  edited  an  American 
edition  of  "Youatt  on  the  Dog,"  in  1863,  says:  "The 
Pointer  displays  but  little  fondness  for  those  by  whom  he 
is  surrounded,  and  hunts  equally  as  well  for  a  stranger  as 
for  his  master."  When  the  fact  is,  that  the  exact  contrary 
is  true,  in  both  instances,  as  to  average  specimens  of  the 
breed.  The  writer  has  never  owned  more  affectionate  and 
faithful  canine  friends  than  his  Pointers,  and  none  that 
were  more  loyal  to  him,  more  averse  to  making  new 
acquaintances,  or  to  working  for  strangers. 

He  is  further  constrained  to  say,  that  some  of  the  best 
dogs  he  ever  owned,  or  saw  in  the  field,  were  Pointers;  and 
he  has  never  been  called  upon  to  admit  the  inferiority  of 
the  Pointer  in  any  kind  of  shooting  in  which  it  gives  a 
gentleman  pleasure  to  indulge,  whether  in  winter  or  sum- 
mer. 

The  dog  has  been  bred  for  many  generations  in  the 
South,  and  in  ante-bellum  days  was  recognized  as  the  gen- 
uine canine  aristocrat  of  that  section.  "Frank  Forester" 
admits  that  more  of  the  blood  of  the  old  Spanish  Pointer 
is  to  be  found  in  the  dog  commonly  used  in  this  country 
than  in  the  English  breed;  and  it  is  largely  to  that  fact  that 
the  special  excellencies  of  many  of  our  native  strains  are  to 
be  ascribed. 

The  fine  field  qualities  of  the  Pointer  can  not  be  better 
or  more  fittingly  described  than  in  the  following  eloquent 
language  of  "Idstone  :  " 

He  is  a  model  of  beauty,  worthy  of  the  capital  material  from  which  he 
has  descended.  He  is  to  be  found  now  in  every  kennel  of  mark,  with  all  the 
attributes  and  properties  of  the  highest  class,  and  with  intelligence  and  obser- 
vation deserving  the  name  of  reason.  His  airy  gallop,  his  lashing  stern,  his 
fine  range,  his  magnificent  dead-stop  on  game,  his  rapid  turn  to  catch  the  wind 
of  the  body-scent,  his  perseverance,  under  a  trying  sun,  to  reach  a  faint  and 


THE  POINTER.  121 

hardly  perceptible  stain  of  game  borne  to  him  on  the  breeze;  his  glorious 
attitude  as  he  becomes  (directly  his  wide-spread  nostrils  assure  him  he  is  right) 
stiff  and  motionless,  with  limbs  wide-spread,  head  aloft,  stern  high-held,  and 
his  implicit  obedience  to  the  lessons  he  learnt  perhaps  two  or  three  seasons  past 
— all  these  wonderful  gifts  put  him  on  a  level  with  that  paragon  of  Hounds 
with  which  he  claims  relationship. 

And  such  is  the  Pointer  of  the  present  day,  as  he  is  to  be  found  in  the 
kennels  of  Mr.  Whitehouse,  of  Ipsley  Court,  in  Warwickshire;  of  Lord  Lich- 
field,  Mr.  Garth,  Mr.  Vernon  Derbyshire,  or  Mr.  Brockton,  of  Ferndon,  a  bet- 
ter dog  than  whose  Bounce  I  never  saw  on  game. 

THE  POINTER   IN   AMERICA. 

The  Pointer  has  always  occupied  a  high  place  in  the 
esteem  of  American  sportsmen.  This  is  not  only  owing  to 
his  attractive  form  and  fine  field  qualities,  but  also  to  the 
fact  that  in  southern  sections  of  the  country,  where  field 
sports  were  most  indulged  in  during  the  earlier  years  of  our 
national  existence,  his  short  coat,  his  ability  to  go  without 
water  for  a  longer  time  than  the  Setter,  and  his  superior 
nose  in  a  warm,  dry  climate,  entitled  him  to  preference. 

Many  dogs  of  fine  quality  were  imported  from  abroad  by 
our  Southern  friends  long  prior  to  the  war,  and  by  judicious 
interbreeding  with  our  excellent  native  strains,  families  of 
Pointers  were  established  there  which  were  not  inferior,  in 
any  respect,  to  the  best  imported  strains.  By  degrees  these 
became  generally  disseminated  throughout  the  country, 
where  other  fine  strains  had  also  been  established,  so  that 
the  American  Pointer  became  noted  for  his  superiority  and 
general  excellence  as  a  sporting  dog. 

Among  the  earlier  importations  of  Pointers,  of  which  we 
have  any  record,  was  Sefton,  by  Star,  out  of  Lord  Sef- 
ton's  Sam;  Star  by  Cotter,  out  of  Macdona's  Miranda. 
This  dog  was  white,  with  liver-colored  ears,  and  was  im- 
ported by  Dr.  N".  Rowe,  now  editor  of  the  American  Field. 
In  1867,  Sir  Frederick  Bruce,  the  English  Minister,  imported 
the  liver-and-white  dog  George,  from  the  Duke  of  Beau- 
fort's kennels,  which,  together  with  Captain  Graf  ton's 
imported  black-and-white  dog  Peg,  subsequently  became 
the  property  of  Dr.  A.  R.  Strachan,  of  New  York.  In  the 
same  year,  Mr.  S.  G.  Phelps,  of  East  Hartford,  Conn., 


122  THE  AMEEICAN  BOOK   OF  THE   DOG. 

imported  Bruno,  a  lemon-and- white  dog,  and  Mr.  Charles 
Porter,  of  Roslyn,  L.  I.,  the  liver-and- white  bitch  Fanny. 

In  1874,  Mr.  B.  W.  Jenkins,  of  Baltimore,  imported  a 
liver-and- white  dog,  Sancho,  by  Walker's  Dan,  out  of  Fair- 
head's  Juno  (Hamlet-Belle),  who  won  the  Tolly  gold  medal, 
at  Watertown,  in  1875.  In  the  latter  year,  Messrs.  Seeley 
and  Stevens,  of  New  York,  imported  the  liver,  gray,  and 
white  dog  Rap,  by  Lord  Carlisle's  Rap,  out  of  Bess,  by 
Hon.  Nore  Hill's  Blunder,  out  of  Shaw's  Helen;  Rap  by 
Lord  Downe's  Shot,  out  of  Wilson's  Staffa. 

Besides  these  imported  dogs,  excellent  strains  were  bred 
about  the  same  time  by  Mr.  Wisner  Murray,  of  Gfoshen, 
N.  Y.;  A.  C.  Wardell,  of  Newton,  N.  J.  (now  of  Kansas); 
James  Cassady  and  Charles  H.  Winfield,  of  New  Jersey; 
Mr.  Colt,  of  Hartford;  Dwight  L.  Roberts  and  Capt.  J.  P. 
White,  of  Savannah;  Edward  H.  Lathrop,  of  Springfield, 
Mass. ;  and  Gr.  A.  Strong  and  E.  A.  Kelsey,  of  West  Meri- 
den,  Conn. 

The  first  effort  at  a  bench  show  in  this  country  was  made 
at  the  meeting  of  the  Illinois  State  Sportsmen' s  Associa- 
tion in  Chicago,  June  2,  1874.  The  second  was  held  at 
Oswego,  N.  Y.,  June  22,  1874,  by  the  New  York  State 
Sportsmen's  Association.  The  first  real  success  in  that 
direction  was  achieved  at  Mineola,  L.  L,  October  7,  1874. 
Other  exhibitions  soon  followed,  at  Memphis,  Detroit, 
Springfield,  Watertown,  Paris,  Ky.,  and  at  Manchester, 
N.  H. 

The  first  bench  show  in  New  York  was  held  in  1877,  at 
which  R.  J.  Lloyd  Price,  of  England,  exhibited  Snapshot 
in  the  champion  class,  and  won  with  him,  the  Columbus, 
Ohio,  Kennel  dub  winning  in  the  same  class  for  bitches 
with  Belle.  The  exhibition  of  1878,  in  the  same  city, 
brought  out  the  St.  Louis  Kennel  Club's  champion  Slea- 
ford,  and  in  bitches,  E.  Orgill's  Romp  and  Rose.  Many 
fine  dogs  appeared  subsequently  at  this  series  of  exhibi- 
tions, among  them  being  Faust,  Croxteth,  Tramp,  Lord 
Dufferin,  Rush,  Rapp  (W.  R.  Hobart's),  Tom  (John  S. 
Wise),  Donald  (A.  H.  Moore's),  King  Bow,  Water  Lily, 


ROBERT  LE    DIABLE. 
Owned  by  Hempstead  Farm  Company,  Hempstead,   Long   Island,   N.  Y. 


THE  POINTER.  123 

Lalla  Rookh,  Meteor,  Drake,  Pilot,  Munson's  Bang,  Bravo, 
Bow,  Beaufort,  Robert  le  Diable,  Fritz,  Rue,  Robin  Adair, 
Jilt,  Rhona,  Modesty,  Rosa,  Bracket,  Meally,  Revel  III., 
Tammany,  Duke  of  Bergen,  Consolation,  Nick  of  Naso, 
Bang-Grace,  Seph  G.,  Bloomo,  Young  Beulah,  Neversink, 
Tuck,  Patti  M.,  Duke  of  Hessen,  Yanderbilt,  Puck,  Hamlet- 
Sleaford,  Naso  of  Devonshire,  Penelope,  Wanda,  Stella, 
Sensation,  Jimmie,  Shirley,  Amine,  Clover,  Springbok, 
Bangso,  Malite,  Jersey  Bang-Bang,  Roger  Williams,  May- 
flower, Naso  of  Kippen,  Lad  of  Bow,  Lass  of  Bow,  Lucky- 
stone,  Madstone,  Glauca,  Gladys,  Kate  VIII.,  Golden  Rod, 
Duke  of  Vernon,  Graphite,  Lord  Graphic,  Brake,  Leba- 
non, Tory  White,  Transit,  Belle  Randolph,  Cicely,  Lap  ford- 
Pearl,  Woolton  Game,  Queen  Fan,  Pommery  Sec,  Ossining, 
Tribulation,  Miss  Freedom,  Merry  Legs,  Stella  B.,  Sally 
Brass  II.,  Meally' s  Baby,  Glamorgan,  Lady  Tammany,  and 
numbers  of  others  whom  space  will  not  permit  us  to  men- 
tion. 

Among  the  organizations  that  are  entitled  to  great  credit 
for  the  efforts  that  they  put  forth,  about  1877,  for  the  im- 
provement of  the  Pointer  in  America,  are  the  St.  Louis 
Kennel  Club  in  the  West,  and  the  Westminster  Kennel 
Club  in  the  East,  each  composed  of  wealthy,  representative 
sportsmen,  having  the  true  interests  of  the  breed  at  heart. 
These  gentlemen  imported,  at  heavy  expense,  some  of  the 
choicest  English  blood,  and  by  its  injection  into  the  veins 
of  our  already  excellent  strains  of  dogs,  vastly  raised  the 
standard  of  the  American  Pointer. 

The  St.  Louis  Kennel  Club's  stud  dogs,  Champion  Faust 
and  Champion  Bow,  were  two  of  the  best  Pointers  of  their 
day,  and  have  further  established  their  claims  to  distinction 
by  proving  their  prepotency  through  a  long  line  of  worthy 
descendants.  Champion  Sleaford  also  added  greatly  to  the 
reputation  which  the  club  had  achieved  as  the  importers 
and  breeders  of  some  of  the  best  Pointers  that  America  has 
seen,  adding  to  their  bench  qualifications  that  still  more 
desirable  characteristic,  superior  excellence  in  the  field. 

The  Westminster  Kennel  Club  was  among  the  first  to 


124  THE  AMERICAN   BOOK   OF   THE   DOG. 

establish  bench  shows  in  this  country,  and  through  that 
medium  has  done  much  to  improve  the  form  and  appearance 
of  the  Pointer,  importing  such  excellent  dogs  as  Bang- 
Bang  and  Naso  of  Kippen,  and  by  their  energy  and  influ- 
ence inducing  a  wider  distribution  of  the  Pointer,  and  a 
higher  recognition  of  his  claims  as  a  useful  and  valuable 
sporting  dog. 

The  annual  bench  show  held  by  this  club,  in  the  city  of 
New  York,  is  recognized  as  the  leading  one  in  the  United 
States,  and  the  prizes  there  bestowed  are  most  highly 
cherished  by  breeders.  The  long  line  of  important  shows 
now  held  in  this  country,  at  Boston,  Providence,  Spring- 
field, Rochester,  Elmira,  Buffalo,  Philadelphia,  Baltimore, 
Pittsburgh,  Chicago,  St.  Louis,  Denver,  St.  Paul,  Cincin- 
nati, and  other  large  cities,  owe  their  origin  and  inspiration 
to  the  influence  and  example  of  the  Westminster  Kennel 
Club.  The  Graphic  Kennels,  at  Netherwood,  N.  J.,  the 
Neversink  Lodge  Kennels,  of  Orange  County,  IN".  Y.,  and 
the  Hempstead  Farm  Kennels,  of  Long  Island,  are  also 
prominent  Eastern  breeders  of  Pointers;  while  Messrs.  John 
S.  Wise,  F.  R.  Hitchcock,  A.  E.  Godeffroy,  Fred  S.  Under- 
bill, A.  D.  Lewis,  J.  H.  Phelan,  J.  H.  Winslow,  Charles 
J.  Peshall,  L.  Gardner,  Charles  Heath,  James  L.  Anthony, 
E.  R.  Bellman,  John  White,  Luke  W.  White,  J.  R. 
Purcell,  P.  T.  Madison,  Robert  C.  Cornell,  Thomas  H. 
Terry,  B.  F.  Seitner,  A.  'C.  Collins,  C.  M.  Munhall,  C.  G. 
Stoddard,  C.  H.  Odell,  O.  W.  Donner,  Edward  Dexter, 
Amory  R.  Starr,  John  M.  Tracy,  C.  W.  Littlejohn,  George 
DeF.  Grant,  Ed.  S.  Shultz,  E.  C.  Sterling,  Bayard  Thayer, 
Samuel  T.  Colt,  W.  E.  Hughes,  J.  B.  Turner,  A.  A. 
Whipple,  A.  C.  Waddell,  and  C.  C.  Pettit,  are  among  those 
gentlemen  to  whom  breeders  are  indebted  for  intelligent 
and  successful  efforts  in  the  development  of  the  Pointer. 

A  large  number  of  champion  Pointers  had  been  evolved, 
and  had  won  well -merited  honors  at  the  various  exhibitions, 
before  the  organization  of  the  present  American  Kennel 
Club.  Among  these  were  Faust,  Sleaford,  Bow,  Water 
Lily,  Meteor,  Bravo,  and  Patti  M.  As  kennel  interests 


THE   POINTER.  125 

began  to  assume  a  more  prominent  place  in  America,  the 
necessity  for  the  organization  of  a  national  association,  with 
a  view  to  directing  and  fostering  such  interests,  and  adopt- 
ing uniform  rules  for  the  government  of  shows  and  the 
distribution  of  awards,  became  apparent,  and  resulted  in  the 
organization  of  the  American  Kennel  Club,  at  Philadelphia, 
on  September  17,  1884. 

This  club  has  present  control  of  American  kennel  affairs, 
publishing  the  only  official  stud-book  for  the  registration 
of  pedigrees,  as  well  as  the  Kennel  Gazette,  and  promulgat- 
ing uniform  rules  for  the  government  of  shows  and  distri- 
bution of  awards.  It  also  publishes  in  the  Gazette,  as 
''Champions  of  Record,"  the  names  of  all  those  dogs,  still 
living,  who  have  attained  the  title  of  "Champion,"  the 
qualifications  being  that  a  dog  shall  have  won  four  first 
prizes  in  the  ' '  open  class  "  to  be  eligible  to  the  ' '  challenge 
class,"  and  three  first  prizes  in  the  latter  class  to  be  entitled 
"champion" — the  exhibitions  at  which  such  awards  are 
given  to  be  such  as  are  duly  recognized  by  the  club,  and  the 
contest  to  be  under  rules  promulgated  by  themselves.  The 
club  is  composed  of  a  membership  comprising  the  different 
bench-show  and  field-trial  clubs  of  America,  represented 
by  delegates,  and  a  large  body  of  associated  individual 
members,  also  represented  by  delegates. 

Those  living  Pointers  recognized  as  champions  by  the 
American  Kennel  Club,  down  to  1890,  are:  Bracket  (7835); 
Clover  (2867);  Donald (2879);  Graphic  (4067);  Juno  S.  (8010); 
King  Bow  (4076);  Lad  of  Bow  (7880);  Lass  of  Bow  (8020);. 
Meally  (4201);  Naso  of  Kippen  (5552);  Nick  of  JNaso  (5553); 
Queen  Bow  (8057);  Queen  Fan  (5607);  Revel  III.  (8062); 
Robert  le  Diable  (5556);  and  Rosa  (11206). 

Contemporaneously  with  the  establishment  of  bench 
shows  in  the  United  States,  appeared  the  public  field  trials, 
which  were  designed  to  develop  and  demonstrate  the  useful 
and  practical  qualities  of  the  Pointer  and  Setter.  The  first 
field  trial  in  America  was  held  October  8,  1874,  under  the 
auspices  of  the  Tennessee  Sportsmen's  Association,  in  which 
the  judging  was  under  English  rules,  by  points.  On  Octo- 


126  THE  AMERICAN   BOOK    OF   THE   DOG 

ber  26,  1875,  the  same  association  also  held  extensive  trials 
in  the  field,  at  which  first  prize  for  Pointers  was  won  by 
Maj.  J.  M.  Taylor's  Duke,  by  Captain  Day's  Mac,  out 
of  Ida;  second,  by  Captain  Lightburne's  Sandy,  by  Bang, 
out  of  Queen.  In  the  bitch  class,  first  went  to  Gr.  Muller'  s 
Fanny,  by  Ben,  out  of  Hoffman's  imported  bitch;  second, 
to  Doctor  Sanders'  May,  by  Sam,  out  of  Gibson's  Nelly. 

One  of  the  earliest  prominent  field-trial  organizations,  and 
one  to  which  Pointer  breeders  are  chiefly  indebted  for  early 
encouragement,  was  the  Eastern  Field  Trials  Club,  organized 
in  1878,  and  still  in  active  existence.  During  the  first  few 
years,  the  club  furnished  but  one  all-aged  stake  annually  to 
which  both  Setters  and  Pointers  were  eligible.  While  the 
latter  won  a  fair  share  of  the  competitive  honors,  they  were 
so  heavily  handicapped  by  the  greater  numbers  of  the  Set- 
ters, affording  a  larger  field  for  selection,  that  Pointer 
breeders  were  dissatisfied;  and  it  was  not  until  the  club 
established  separate  all-aged  stakes  for  the  two  breeds,  that 
the  excellent  field  qualities  of  the  Pointer  were  clearly 
demonstrated,  and  his  improvement  became  rapid.  The 
two  breeds  still  contend  together  in  the  Derby — for  dogs 
born  on  or  after  January  1st  of  the  year  of,  or  year  preced- 
ing the  contest — and  also  contend  together  for  the  champion 
stake,  to  which  winners  of  a  first  prize  in  an  all-aged  stake 
are  eligible. 

The  Robin's  Island  Club,  organized  in  1881,  is  still  in 
existence;  while  later  organizations  that  are  engaged  in  the 
commendable  work  of  developing  the  field  qualities  of  the 
Pointer  and  Setter  are  the  Central  Field  Trial  Club,  Southern 
Field  Trial  Club,  Indiana  Kennel  Club,  Texas  Field  Trial 
Club,  Pacific  Coast  Field  Trial  Club,  Philadelphia  Kennel 
Club,  Southern  Sportsmen's  Association,  Canadian  Kennel 
Club,  and  Manitoba  Field  Trial  Club. 

The  following  is  a  fairly  correct  list  of  the  winning 
Pointers  at  the  leading  field-trial  contests  held  in  America, 
down  to  1890: 

Croxteth  (Lowe's  Young  Bang-Macdona' s  Jane);  Sensa- 
tion (Price's  Jim-Nell);  Count  Fauster  (Mainspring-Dolly 


THE   POINTER.  1*27 

Fauster);  Rue  (Snapshot-Ruby ) ;  Tammany  (Tory-Moon- 
stone); Mainspring  (Mike-Romp);  Scout  (Croxteth-Belle) ; 
Bang-Bang  (Champion  Bang-Princess  Kate);  Robert  le 
Diable  (Croxteth-Spinaway);  Prince  (Minnesota  Prince- 
Countess);  Springbok  (Mainspring-Curfew);  Nick  of  Naso 
(Naso  Il.-Pettigo);  Trinket's  Bang  (Croxteth-Trinket); 
Lalla  Rookh  (Sensation's  Son-Grace);  Dexter  (Nip-Tuck); 
Roger  Williams  (Bang-Bang-Lalla  Rookh);  Sensation,  Jr. 
(Sensation- White's  Grace);  Darkness  (Chipps-Nettie);  Tick 
(Bob-Dido);  Drake  (Croxteth-Lass);  Drab  (Dan- Arrow); 
Bang-Grace  (Bang -Bang-Grace);  Consolation  (Bang-Bang- 
Grace  III);  Go-Bang  (Graphic-Leach's  Bloomo);  Ossian 
(Croxteth-Amine);  Old  Black  Joe  (unknown);  Lottie  B. 
(Professor-Grace  B.);  Nestor  (Gladsome-Forest  Queen  II.); 
Onyx  (Wat-Flash);  King  Cotton  (Tyler-Dream  S.);  Phi- 
nette  (Lossing-Ress);  Lily  Talbot;  Ress  (Bruce  Ranger- 
Frank);  Wat,  Meteor  Fred,  Juno,  Vandevort's  Don 
(Price's  Bang-Letheridge' s  Peg);  Cornerstone  (Meteor-Ac- 
cident); Jimmie  (Start-Maud);  Bow,  Jr.,  Spring  (Main- 
spring-Curfew); Belle,  Bert,  Adams'  Mack,  Dillsey  (Me- 
teor-Dee); Tansey  (Meteor-Dee);  Tennie  (Rod-Nell);  Rod 
(Meteor-Dell);  Rod's  Gal  (Rod-Juno);  Lad  of  Bow  (Graphic 
-Climax);  Vandevort's  Don  (Price's  Bang-Peg);  Richmond 
(Vandevort's  Don-Beulah);  Spot  Bel  ton  (Dick  B. -Belle 
Belton);  Lebanon  (Tim-Peg);  Rip-Rap  (King  of  Kent- 
Hops);  Woolton  Game  (Gough-Lockspur);  Ightfield  Bleithe 
(Dancer-Ightfield  Bloom);  Joy,  Jr.  (Flockfinder-Ion);  Miss 
Meally  (Graphic-Meally);  Tempest  (Beppo  III. -Lass  of 
Bow);  Beau  of  Portland  (Graphic-Zitta);  Duke  of  Hes- 
sen  (Luck  of  Hessen-Blarney);  Ladj;  Zeal  (Croxteth-Am- 
ine); Ben  Lanier  (Jo  Bowers);  Cherrystone  (Trinket' s  Bang- 
Pearlstone);  Zetta  King  Don  (King  Don-Queen  Faust);  Ber- 
traldo  (Cornerstone-Bessie  Beaufort);  Tennie  (Rod-Nell); 
Rod's  Gal  (Rod- Juno);  Tribulation  (Beppo  III.-Lass  of 
Bow);  Galena  (Trinket' s  Bang-Cremorne) ;  Pontiac  (Milton 
Bang  III. -Climax);  Bryn  Mawr  Mona  (Bang-Vandalia); 
Hoosier  Harry  (unknown);  Pearl's  Dot  (Trinket's  Bang- 
Peaiistone);  Thomastone  (Cornerstone-Firenzi);  Fancy  Free 


128  THE  AMEEICAN   BOOK   OF  THE  DOG. 

(Donald-Lady  Bow);  Lord  Graphic  (Graphic-Daphne); 
Tamarack  (Tarn  CT Shanter-Croxteth' s  Rival  Queen);  Ban- 
nerman  (Osborne  Ale-Keswick);  Breezo  (unknown). 

Too  much  can  not  be  said  in  praise  of  those  enterprising 
gentlemen  who  have  devoted  time  and  money  without  stint 
to  the  support  and  encouragement  of  field  contests;  and 
while  severe  criticisms  have  been  made  on  the  methods 
often  employed  at  the  trials,  the  rules  under  which  they  are 
run,  and  the  work  of  the  dogs,  yet  it  must  be  borne  in 
mind  that  the  conditions  under  which  these  races  are  run 
are  of  the  most  trying  character. 

It  is  a  contest  for  supremacy  between  owners,  handlers, 
and  dogs.  The  latter  are  thrown  among  strange  competi- 
tors, oftentimes  after  being  carried  hundreds  of  miles  by 
rail;  must  work  on  strange  grounds,  followed  by  a  crowd; 
listen  to  unaccustomed  sounds  and  commands,  and  work  in 
confusion  generally.  It  is  only  a  wonder  that  the  dogs  per- 
form as  well  as  they  do;  and  it  is  generally  admitted  that  it 
takes  a  good  dog  to  win  at  these  trials  in  the  face  of  all  these 
difficulties.  Many  of  the  successful  field-trial  winners  are 
afterward  used  as  stud  dogs,  and  produce  some  excellent 
descendants  for  all-around  work,  which  proves  their  own 
inherent  good  qualities.  • 

If  less  prominence  were  given  to  pace  and  range,  and 
more  to  nose,  style,  and  quality  of  work,  stanclmess  in 
pointing,  backing,  and  retrieving,  it  would  redound  more  to 
the  credit  of  the  field  trials,  and  result  in  giving  us  better 
dogs  for  general  private  use  throughout  the  country. 

The  tendency  now  seems  to  be  to  adopt  more  rational 
and  sensible  rules  in  judging  the  work  of  the  dogs;  and  a 
wild,  half -trained  animal,  knowing  but  little  else  than  how 
to  run  fast  for  a  short  time,  does  not  now  necessarily  win 
the  contest. 

Among  the  most  potent  sires  that  have  ever  been  im- 
ported to  this  country  were  Sensation  and  Croxteth.  The 
former,  by  Price's  Jim  ( Whitehouse' s  Hamlet-Judy),  out 
of  Nell  (Old  Rap-Miia),  was  bred  by  Mr.  J.  D.  Humphries 
in  1874,  and  during  his  life-time  won  seven  prizes  in  Eng- 


THE  POINTER.  129 

land  and  thirteen  in  the  United  States,  including  third 
prize  in  the  Eastern  Field  Trials,  and  the  cup  for  the  best 
Pointer,  in  1880.  He  was  a  dog  of  most  excellent  quality, 
lemon-and-white  in  color,  and  has  produced  many  noted 
descendants. 

He  was  one  of  the  first  dogs  of  note  that  was  brought  to 
America,  and  his  importation  marked  the  beginning  of  the 
interest  in  the  development  of  the  Pointer  that  has  culmi- 
nated in  our  present  high  standard  of  excellence.  He  was 
imported  in  1876,  having  been  selected  and  purchased,  for 


CROXTETH. 
Owned  by  Mr.  A.  E.  Godeffroy,  Neversink  Lodge  Kennels,  Guymard,  N.  Y. 

the  Westminster  Kennel  Club,  by  Mr.  George  De  Forest 
Grant.  His  field  qualities  were  of  a  high  order,  many  of 
his  fine  attitudes  on  point  having  been  preserved  by  brush 
and  pencil.  He  died  of  old  age,  at  Babylon,  Long  Island, 
in  June,  1887. 

Following  close  upon  Sensation  was  Croxteth.  He  was 
bred  by  the  well-known  English  sportsman,  E-ev.  J.  Gum- 
ming Macdona,  in  January,  1878,  from  whom  he  was  pur- 
chased by  Mr.  A.  E.  Godeffroy,  of  New  York.  When  first 
imported,  he  was  in  very  poor  condition,  and  did  not  show 
up  well  at  the  New  York  Exhibition  of  1880,  where  he  was 

9 


130  THE   AMERICAN   BOOK   OF   THE   DOG. 

only  awarded  two  letters.  In  the  summer  of  1880,  lie  began 
to  improve  in  condition,  and  ran  in  the  all-aged  stake  of 
the  Eastern  Field  Trials,  where  he  won  his  first  heat,  but 
failed  to  get  placed.  At  the  New  York  Show  of  1881,  he 
won  third  in  the  open  class,  and  in  the  fall  of  the  same  year 
again  ran  at  the  trials  of  the  Eastern  Field  Trials  Club, 
where  he  defeated  all  the  Pointers  present,  winning  the 
special  Pointer  cup.  He  then  ran  for  first  prize  over  all, 
against  the  orange-and-white  Setter  Grousedale,  but  after  a 
close  race  was  declared  defeated — a  decision  which  caused 
considerable  heated  discussion  in  the  sporting  press,  many 
believing  that  Croxteth  had  justly  won  the  contest.  His 
owner  withdrew  him  after  this  race,  and  would  not  permit 
him  to  contend  for  second  money. 

In  1882,  the  New  York  Exhibition  awarded  him  first  in 
the  open  class  for  heavy-weight  dogs,  and  the  silver  medal 
for  the  best  Pointer  with  a  field-trial  record.  He  was 
shown  against  the  well-known  dog  Faust,  and  scored  nine- 
ty-five and  one-fourth  points,  out  of  a  possible  one  hun- 
dred, against  ninety  by  Faust.  The  same  year,  he  ran 
again  in  the  all-aged  stake  at  the  Eastern  Field  Trials, 
beating  all  Pointers,  and  again  winning  the  special  Pointer 
cup.  He  won  second  in  the  general  contest,  out  of  thirty- 
seven  entries,  being  defeated  for  first  place  by  London. 
His  son,  Lord  Sefton,  ran  in  the  Derby  at  the  same  time, 
and  won  the  silver  cup,  over  sixty-five  dogs,  for  special 
excellence;  he  also  won  second  in  the  puppy  class  at  the 
New  York  Bench  Show,  the  same  year. 

The  summarized  winnings  of  Croxteth  are  as  follows: 
Second  prize  (in  puppy  class),  International  Show  at 
Hanover,  Germany,  1879;  fourth  in  English  Field  Trial 
Derby,  out  of  one  hundred  and  twenty-seven  entries,  1879; 
second  in  bench  show,  Rochester,  N.  Y.,  1879;  H.  C.,  bench 
show,  New  York  City,  1880;  third,  bench  show,  New  York 
City,  1881;  special  cup  for  best  Pointer  in  Eastern  Field 
Trials,  1881;  first  in  open  class,  New  York  Bench  Show, 
and  silver  medal  for  best  field- trial  Pointer  in  the  show, 
1882;  special  cup  for  best  Pointer  in  the  Eastern  Field 


THE   POINTER.  131 

Trials,  1882;  second  in  all-aged  stake  in  Eastern  Field 
Trials,  1882;  silver  medal,  best  kennel  of  Pointers,  New 
York,  1883;  silver  medal,  best  field-trial  Pointer,  New 
York,  1883;  best  stud  Pointer  in  the  show,  appearing  with 
four  first  and  second  winners,  New  York,  1884;  silver 
medal,  best  kennel  of  Pointers,  New  York,  1885. 

He  was  never  shown  except  in  New  York  State,  and 
after  1885  retired  on  his  laurels,  being  in  extensive  demand 
as  a  stud  dog,  and  becoming  the  sire  of  many  winners,  both 
on  the  bench  and  in  the  field.  Among  the  well-known 
dogs  of  whom  he  was  the  sire  were  Elliot's  Scout,  Drake, 
Trinket's  Bang,  Robert  le  Diable,  Keswick  II.,  Dee,  Dell, 
Modesty,  Lady  Zeal,  Romp,  Lady  Croxteth,  Neversink,  Jilt, 
Lord  Sef  ton,  Doncaster,  Rapp,  and  Ossian.  No  dog  that  we 
have  had  in  America  has  achieved  a  more  favorable  reputa- 
tion as  a  dog  of  high  character,  and  a  successful  stock- 
getter,  than  Croxteth;  and  when  he  died,  in  March,  1888, 
the  result  of  a  cold  caught  during  the  great  blizzard  of  that 
month,  general  regret  pervaded  Pointer  circles  at  the  loss 
of  so  shining  a  light  among  their  favorites. 

Croxteth  was  by  Lowe's  Young  Bang,  out  of  Macdona's 
Jane;  he  by  Price's  Bang  and  Davey's  Luna,  and  she  by 
Lord  Sef  ton's  Sam,  out  of  his  Flirt.  Through  his  ances- 
tors, Sam,  Hamlet,  and  Drake,  he  inherited  the  best  blood 
of  Lord  Sef  ton's,  Mr.  Whitehouse' s,  and  Sir  Richard 
Garth's  strains;  he  was  half-brother  of  Sir  Thomas  Len- 
nard'  s  Priam  and  Scamp,  and  grandson  of  Champion  Bang, 
the  winner  of  ten  field  trials  in  England,  and  with  an 
invincible  bench  record  as  well.  In  bench-show  form, 
Croxteth  weighed  seventy  pounds,  his  measurements  being: 
Round  chest,  two  feet,  five  inches;  nose  to  root  of  tail,  three 
feet,  two  inches;  height  of  shoulder,  two  feet,  one  and  one- 
fourth  inches;  head,  skull-bone  to  nose,  ten  and  one-half 
inches;  round  face,  under  eyes,  eleven  inches;  round  thigh, 
one  foot,  four  inches;  round  loin,  one  foot,  ten  and  one-half 
inches;  round  skull,  one  foot,  five  and  one-half  inches; 
skull-bone  to  shoulder,  eight  inches. 

In  color,  he  was  dark  liver-and- white  ticked;  grandly 


132  THE  AMERICAN  BOOK   OF   THE  DOG. 

sensational  on  point,  and  impressing  anyone  who  saw  him 
with  the  beautiful  character  and  expression  of  his  head,  his 
grand  frame,  and  muscular  development.  His  legs  and 
feet  were  excellent,  his  carriage  lofty;  never  trailing,  but 
hunting  for  the  body-scent,  going  at  a  steady,  long-striding 
gallop  over  the  roughest  of  ground,  and  never  seeming  to 
be  tired.  He  was  also  a  superior  all-around  dog,  being  as 
good  on  ruffed  grouse  and  snipe  as  he  was  on  quails.  A 
sketch,  representing  him  in  one  of  his  grand  points,  at 
High  Point,  IS".  C.,  in  1882,  was  published  in  Forest  and 
Stream,  December,  1882,  and  was  copied  by  European  sport- 
ing papers.  He  was  also  painted  by  the  well-known  artist, 
Mr.  J.  M.  Tracy,  when  on  point,  handsomely  backed  by 
Sensation,  the  picture  being  now  owned  by  the  Westminster 
Kennel  Club. 

Another  excellent  stud  dog  that  has  just  passed  away, 
leaving  many  noted  descendants,  was  Bang-Bang,  by  Price's 
Bang,  out  of  Princess  Kate.  He  was  bred  by  Mr.  F.  C. 
Lowe  in  January,  1881,  and  imported  to  this  country  in 
July,  1882.  Previous  to  leaving  England,  he  won  the  puppy 
stakes  at  Shrewsbury,  including  the  champion  puppy  stake; 
the  £50  prize  at  the  Blandford  Trials,  the  third  puppy  stake 
and  all-aged  stake  at  the  St.  Hubert  Trials,  Belgium,  and 
first  at  the  Crystal  Palace  Show,  in  1882.  In  this  country, 
his  winnings  were:  Second,  Cleveland;  first,  light-weight 
Pointer  sweepstakes,  New  York,  1884;  first,  Philadelphia, 
1885;  first,  Waverly,  1887;  first,  Syracuse,  1888;  field-trials 
Pointer  stake,  Eastern  Field  Trials  Club,  1885;  divided 
second  in  same  stake,  1886.  Bang- Bang  was  an  attractive 
lemon-and- white  dog,  built  on  wonderful  racing  lines,  of 
grand  style,  fine  nose,  and  excellent  disposition. 

Pointer  breeders  are  also  indebted  to  Champion  Graphic 
for  the  contribution  of  certain  excellent  qualities  to  our 
American  kennels.  He  is  by  Fursdon'  s  Juno,  out  of  Leach' s 
Bonus  Sancho;  was  whelped  April  15,  1881,  and  bred  by 
Mr.  Norrish,  of  Devonshire,  England.  His  sire,  Bonus 
Sancho,  is  by  Price's  Champion  Bang,  out  of  Leach's  Belle, 
a  union  which  produced,  in  different  litters,  Bang  II.,  Bow 


THE  POINTER.  133 

Bells,  Merry  Bells,  Bona  Bell,  and  other  winners.  Leach's 
Belle  is  by  Champion  Sancho  out  of  Leach's  Fan;  Sancho 
was  the  sire  of  Champion  Wagg  and  brother  of  Champion 
Chang. 

Graphic  was  imported  in  1886.  He  is  a  typical  liver-and- 
white  dog,  and  has  scored  many  winnings  in  England  and 
this  country,  including  the  champion  prize  at  Crystal  Palace 
in  1884  and  1885.  His  held  performances  in  England  and 
America  have  been  good,  and  he  is  the  sire  of  many  first- 
class  dogs,  including  Go- Bang,  Champion  Bracket,  Cham- 
pion Lad  of  Bow,  Lass  of  Bow,  Romeo,  Champion  Revel 
III. ,  Wanda,  Stella  B. ,  Graphite,  Lord  Graphic,  Pommery 
Sec.,  Merry  Legs,  and  Sally  Brass  II. 

Champion  Robert  le  Diable  is  one  of  the  most  prominent 
and  popular  dogs  that  have  been  bred  in  this  country.  He 
is  a  grand  liver-and-white  ticked  dog,  of  great  symmetry, 
weighing  about  sixty  pounds,  and  built  on  correct  lines  for 
practical  work.  He  was  bred  by  the  St.  Louis  Kennel  Club, 
whelped  June  12,  1883,  subsequently  owned  by  the  High- 
land Kennels,  Red  Bank,  N.  J.,  and  now  by  the  Hempstead 
Farm  Kennels,  Hempstead,  Long  Island.  He  is  by  Croxteth 
-Spinaway;  she,' a  small  but  symmetrical  bitch,  by  Pilking- 
ton's  Garnet,  out  of  Keswick.  The  latter  was  imported 
by  the  St.  Louis  Kennel  Club,  and  won  first  prize  in  Eng- 
land, in  the  puppy  stakes  of  the  Sporting  Dog  and  Field 
Trial  Club' s  trials,  in  1879.  Robert  le  Diable  is  distinguished 
for  his  successful  bench-show  and  field-trial  record,  and 
defeated  a  large  and  formidable  aggregation  of  Pointers  at 
the  Eastern  Field  Trials  Club's  meeting  in  1886,  winning 
the  all-aged  stake.  He  also  won  first  and  special  for  best 
Pointer  or  Setter  in  the  New  York  Show  in  1885;  first  at 
St.  Louis  and  Cincinnati,  the  same  year;  championship  and 
special  for  best  Pointer,  in  1886,  at  St.  Louis  and  Pitts- 
burgh, besides  other  prizes;  first  and  special,  for  the  best 
Pointer  with  a  field-trial  record,  for  the  best  Pointer  in  the 
show,  and  for  the  best  stud  dog  shown  with  two  of  his 
get,  at  New  York,  1890. 

Tammany,  by  Pilkington's  Tory,  out  of  Moonstone,  im- 


134  THE   AMERICAN   BOOK   OF   THE   DOG. 

ported  in  utero,  and  whelped  August  24,  1883,  is  another 
of  our  noted  Pointers  who  has  just  passed  into  the  great 
hunting-grounds  beyond  the  setting  sun.  His  death  occurred 
on  February  16, 1889.  His  dam,  Moonstone,  was  a  full  sister 
of  the  St.  Louis  Kennel  Club's  Bow,  and  of  Young  Bang, 
the  sire  of  Croxteth  and  Priam.  He  was  a  strong,  heavy- 
weight, liver-and-white  ticked  dog,  lacking  somewhat  in 
symmetry,  but  built  for  the  manifestation  of  power  in  the 
field,  where  he  achieved  his  greatest  successes.  He  won 
first  in  the  Eastern  Field  Trials  Club's  members'  stake,  and 
first  in  the  all-aged  Pointer  stake,  in  1887,  defeating  several 
prominent  competitors,  and  has  left  a  number  of  descendants 
who  aid  in  sustaining  his  good  reputation.  His  bench  win- 
nings were:  Third,  Philadelphia,  1885;  second,  Newark, 
1886;  second,  Hartford,  1886;  first,  New  York,  1886:  first, 
New  York,  and  first,  Hartford,  1887;  second,  Boston,  in  1887; 
and  in  champion  class  in  1888.  The  immediate  ancestors 
of  Tammany  were  such  excellent  dogs  as  Garth's  Drake, 
Doll,  Coham's  Bang,  Price's  Yesta,  Lord  Cole's  Cole, 
Francis'  Bell,  Brockton's  Bounce,  Postan's  Yenus,  Hamlet, 
Mite,  Ranger,  Jilt,  and  Don.  He  was  one  of  the  few 
Pointers  we  have  had  in  this  country  who  displayed  the 
same  style  and  courage  on  game  that  is  manifested  by  the 
best  strains  of  Setters. 

Champion  Nick  of  Naso,  by  Naso  II.  and  Pettigo,  is  a 
handsome  liver-and-white  dog,  imported  from  England  at 
great  expense,  and  has  achieved  a  worthy  prominence  in 
Pointer  circles,  being  a  well-known  winner  on  the  bench, 
and  in  the  field  trials  proving  himself  a  formidable  com- 
petitor, where  he  also  won  deserved  honors.  He  has  also 
proven  a  useful  and  valuable  sire. 

Another  excellent  dog  is  the  liver-and-white  ticked  dog 
Duke  of  Yernon,  owned  by  Mr.  L.  Gardner,  of  Mount 
Yernon,  N.  Y.,  and  exhibited  at  the  various  shows  in  recent 
years.  He  manifests  strong  Pointer  character,  is  admirably 
set  on  his  legs,  symmetrical  and  strong,  and  with  a  per- 
fectly carried  stern.  His  winnings  are:  First  and  two 
specials,  Buffalo,  1888;  second,  Richmond,  1888,  when  in 


fi 


P 


THE   POINTER.  135 

field-form  only;  first,  New  York,  1889;  first,  Troy,  the  same 
year,  and  second,  New  York,  1890.  He  is  by  Glendale,  out 
of  Spotless,  and  includes  in  Ms  pedigree  such  excellent 
dogs  as  Lort,  Lass  of  Bow,  Jaunty,  Sleaford,  Pride,  Dawn, 
Price's  Bang,  Luna,  Belle,  Nina,  Gen.  Prim,  Coham's 
Bang,  Yesta,  Juno,  Sancho,  Hamlet,  Sal,  and  Nellie. 

Champion  Lad  of  Bow  is  now  owned  by  the  Westmin- 
ster Kennel  Club.  He  was  bred  by  Mr.  Sam  Price,  of  Bow, 
North  Devon,  England,  March  19, 1884,  and  imported  to  this 
country  in  May,  1886.  He  is  by  Champion  Graphic,  out  of 
Climax;  she  by  Champion  Bang,  ctut  of  Juno,  by  Mike, 
out  of  Bastin's  Belle;  Bang  by  Coham's  Bang,  out  of 
Yesta.  Lad  of  Bow  is  a  large  liver,  white,  and  ticked 
Pointer,  weighing  about  sixty -five  pounds,  and  of  fine  form 
and  appearance.  He  is  longer  in  body  than  his  sire;  a  racy- 
looking  animal,  with  great  depth  of  chest,  and  fine  dispo- 
sition, measuring  four  and  one-half  inches  from  end  of  nose 
to  corner  of  eye;  across  skull,  six  inches,  and  standing 
twenty-four  inches  high  at  shoulder.  His  bench  winnings 
in  England  include  second  at  Crystal  Palace  Show,  1886. 
In  America,  he  won  first  and  special  for  best  large-sized 
stud  dog  with  two  of  his  progeny,  awarded  with  his  sire, 
Graphic,  and  half-brother,  Champion  Bracket;  also  special 
as  one  of  the  best  kennel  of  Pointers,  Boston,  1887; 
also  dividing  third  at  American  Field  Trial  Club's  trials, 
all-aged  stake,  Florence,  Ala.,  1887;  second  and  two  spe- 
cials as  one  of  best  kennel,  and  for  the  best  Pointer  dog- 
that  has  been  placed  in  any  American  field  trial,  New 
York,  1888. 

Champion  Bracket  was  bred  by  Mr.  R.  P.  Leach,  Devon, 
England;  whelped  February  8,  1884,  and  imported  to  this 
country  in  January,  1886.  He  is  by  Champion  Graphic,  out 
of  Bloomo.  His  record  in  England  was :  Second,  Crystal 
Palace,  1885;  third,  Crystal  Palace,  same  year;  H.  C., 
British  Kennel  Association's  Show  (there  being  no  small 
dog  class),  Sheffield,  1885;  also  special  for  best  team  of 
Pointers  or  Setters,  won  by  Bracket,  Revel  III.,  and  Beau 
Ideal;  first  and  cup,  small  dog  class,  Birmingham,  1885. 


136  THE  AMEKICAN   BOOK   OF   THE   DOG. 

In  this  country,  his  record  of  winnings-  is  large,  including: 
First,  Pittsburgh,  1886;  also  in  sweepstakes,  first  as  best 
Pointer  under  fifty-five  pounds,  and  special  as  best  light- 
weight Pointer,  in  open  class;  first  and  five  specials, 
Newark,  1886;  first  and  three  specials,  Boston,  1886;  first 
and  two  specials,  Hartford,  1886;  champion  and  special, 
New  York,  1886;  champion,  Newark,  1887;  special  as  one 
of  best  kennel,  special  for  best  large  stud  dog  with  two  of 
his  progeny  (awarded  with  his  sire,  Graphic,  and  his  half- 
brother,  Lad  of  Bow),  Boston,  1887;  and  champion  and 
special,  New  York,  1888. 

Bracket  is  dark  liver,  white,  and  ticked,  weighing  about 
fifty-four  pounds,  measuring  four  and  one-fourth  inches 
from  end  of  nose  to  corner  of  eye,  five  and  one-half  inches 
between  the  ears,  and  standing  twenty-two  and  three- 
fourths  inches  at  shoulder.  He  is  full  of  quality,  some- 
what heavy  in  head,  with  good  shoulders,  capital  loin  and 
body,  and  good  disposition.  He  has  been  shown  a  great 
deal  in  this  country,  and  also  given  a  good  deal  of  work  in 
the  field,  where  he  is  said  to  manifest  a  most  excellent  nose, 
combined  with  speed,  stanchness,  and  tractability. 

Champion  Donald  was  imported  by  Mr.  A.  H.  Moore,  of 
Philadelphia,  in  1880.  He  was  bred  by  Mr.  R.  Andrews, 
of  Devonshire,  being  whelped  in  1877.  His  record  on  the 
bench  is  a  good  one,  both  in  England  and  this  country. 
He  won  first  at  Exeter,  June,  1879;  first  at  Falmouth,  in 
July,  the  same  year;  first,  in  October,  at  Bristol,  and  first 
at  Birmingham,  in  December.  He  finished  his  public 
career  in  England  by  capturing  first,  and  cup,  at  Margate, 
February,  1880.  In  this  country,  he  won  first  at  St.  Louis, 
1880;  first  champion,  and  first,  with  others,  as  best  kennel 
of  dogs,  New  York,  1882;  first  champion  at  Boston,  1882; 
and  first  champion  at  Cleveland,  1882. 

He  is  the  sire  of  Patti  M.,  Dress,  and  Donald  II.,  all 
well  known.  In  color,  he  is  liver,  white,  and  ticked,  of 
medium  size,  rather  stocky  in  build,  with  capital  neck,  fair 
shoulders,  and  good  body  and  legs.  He  has  sired  some 
most  excellent  dogs  by  Revel  III.  and  other  bitches. 


THE   POINTER. 


137 


In  working  condition,  he  weighs  about  fifty-two  pounds, 
measuring  four  and  one-fourth  inches  from  end  of  nose  to 
corner  of  eye;  between  ears,  five  and  one-half  inches,  and 
in  height,  twenty-two  and  one-fourth  inches  at  shoulder. 

A  dog  of  excellent  quality,  that  has  recently  been  devel- 
oped in  the  West,  is  Mr.  P.  T.  Madison's  Ossian,  by  Crox- 
teth-Amine.  He  was  bred  by  Mr.  John  S.  Wise,  in  May, 
1886,  and  trained  by  Capt.  D.  E.  Rose,  of  Lawrenceburg, 
Tenn.  His  field  winnings  are:  Divided  third  in  Eastern 


PATTI   M. 
Owned  by  C.  M.  Munhall,  Cleveland,  Ohio. 


Field  Trials  Club's  Derby,  in  1887;  third  in  same  club's  all- 
aged  stake,  in  1888;  second  in  Southern  Field  Trial  Club's 
all -aged  Pointer  stake,  in  1888;  and  first  in  Indiana  Ken- 
nel Club's  all-aged  Pointer  stake,  in  1889.  He  has  been 
shown  but  twice  on  the  bench,  winning  second  in  open  class, 
Indianapolis,  1889,  and  first  at  Indianapolis,  1890.  Ossian 
is  a  high-headed,  stylish,  liver,  white,  and  ticked  Pointer, 
weighing  about  sixty  pounds,  with  plenty  of  bone  and  mus 
cle,  strong  and  enduring,  and  obedient  and  tractable  in  the 
field. 


138  THE   AMERICAN    BOOK   OF   THE   DOG. 

At  the  terrible  canine  holocaust  at  Columbus,  Ohio,  Jan- 
uary 11,  1888,  several  excellent  Pointers  were  burned. 
Among  them  were  Bow-Faust  (Rapp-Dove) ;  Planet  (Meteor- 
Accident);  Pap  Smizer  (Meteor-Diana);  Business  (Don- 
ald-N y mpher) ;  Rumpty  (Meteor-Diana);  Hamlet- Sleaford 
(Young  Sleaford-Lillie);  Lily  Bang  (Bang-Bang-Lass); 
Dolly  Fauster  (Fauster-Ny mpher);  Lady  Trinket  (Young 
Meteor-Zolo  Faust);  Corsicana  Tobe  (Tory-Kelley' s  Belle), 
besides  several  fine  puppies  belonging  to  the  Idstone  Ken- 
nels, of  Dayton,  Ohio;  and  last,  but  not  least,  the  two  fine 
bitches,  Lady  Croxteth,  combining  most  excellent  field, 
bench,  and  brood  qualities,  and  the  peerless  Champion  Patti 
M.,  a  bitch  of  rare  quality  who  was  rapidly  pushing  her 
way  to  the  front.  Patti  M.,  by  Champion  Donald  (Bob- 
Sappho),  out  of  Devonshire  Lass  (Imp.  Don-Imp.  Lady),  was 
whelped  August  9,  1882,  and  was  a  litter  sister  of  Donald 
II.  Her  winnings  were:  First  and  special,  Milwaukee, 
1886;  first  and  two  specials,  Latonia,  Ky.,  1886;  first  and 
special,  Waverly,  N.  J.,  1886;  champion  prize  and  two  spe- 
cials, Dayton,  Ohio,  1886;  first,  Boston,  1887;  first  and  two 
specials,  Pittsburgh,  1887;  champion  prize,  New  York, 
1887;  champion  prize  and  special,  Detroit,  1887;  champion 
prize  and  three  specials,  Columbus,  Ohio,  1888.  Patti  M. 
was  only  bred  twice,  to  Croxteth  and  Nick  of  Naso,  all  of 
her  progeny  proving  good. 

Other  dogs  that  have  proven  decidedly  prepotent  in 
impressing  their  own  fine  qualities  on  their  offspring,  in 
America,  and  whom  space  will  not  permit  us  to  describe  at 
length,  are  Naso  of  Kippen;  Mainspring,  King  Bow,  King 
Don,  Vandevort's  Don,  Duke  of  Hessen,  Beaufort,  Beppo 
III.,  Cornerstone,  Consolation,  Meteor,  Pontiac,  Moulton 
Baron,  Osborne  Ale,  Freedom,  Trinket's  Bang,  Tarn 
O'Shanter,  Dancer,  Flockfinder,  Sensation's  Son,  Rod, 
and  Bang. 

These  dogs,  together  with  many  other  native  and  im- 
ported specimens  of  high  character,  have  done  much  in 
elevating  the  standard  of  Pointer  breeding  in  America. 
Already  the  latest  successful  blood  in  England  has  been 


THE  POINTER.  139 

imported;  and  with  the  experience  gained  in  the  trials,  and 
the  exercise  of  the  principles  of  scientific  breeding,  there  is 
every  reason  to  believe  that  the  Pointer  will  always  hold 
his  place  in  the  front  rank  of  our  sporting  dogs. 

At  the  same  time,  as  now  bred,  he  needs  more  enthusi- 
asm in  his  work,  and  should  carry  a  higher  head  than  he 
does,  feeling  more  for  the  body-scent  and  less  for  the  foot- 
scent  of  game,  and  working  out  his  ground  with  more  judg- 
ment. In  these  respects,  the  Setter  has  been  wonderfully 
developed  and  improved  by  the  field  trials.  The  Pointer 
has  among  his  promoters  many  of  our  leading  sportsmen, 
and  all  that  money  can  accomplish,  united  with  earnest 
endeavor  and  intelligent  experimentation,  will  doubtless  be 
done  to  make  him  the  equal  of  the  Setter  in  every  respect. 
The  organization  of  a  club,  in  1888,  devoted  to  his  interests 
and  development,  is  also  a  move  in  the  right  direction;  and 
if  the  counsels  of  this  body  are  wisely  governed,  it  can 
accomplish  much  in  unifying  the  interests  of  the  breed  in 
America,  making  the  types  of  breeding  more  uniform,  and 
securing  proper  recognition  for  the  Pointer. 

The  Pointer  Club  of  America  is  now  officered  as  follows: 
Hon.  John  S.  Wise,  president,  New  York  City;  George  W. 
LaRue,  secretary  and  treasurer,  New  York  City;  James  L. 
Anthony,  first  vice-president,  New  York  City;  F.  R.  Hitch- 
cock second  vice-president,  New  York  City;  B.  F.  Seitner, 
third  vice-president,  Dayton,  Ohio;  A.  C.  Collins,  fourth 
vice-president,  Hartford,  Conn.  Executive  Committee:  C. 
M.  Munhall,  Cleveland,  Ohio;  Dr.  J.  R.  Daniels,  Cleveland, 
Ohio;  Charles  Heath,  Newark,  N.  J.;  James  P.  Swain,  New 
York  City;  J.  H.  Winslow,  Philadelphia,  Penn.;  J.  M. 
Arnolt,  New  York  City;  Charles  G.  Stoddard,  Dayton,  Ohio; 
M.  Y.  B.  Saunders,  Detroit,  Mich.;  John  S.  Wise,  New 
York  City;  George  W.  LaRue,  New  York  City;  James  L. 
Anthony,  New  York  City;  F.  R.  Hitchcock,  New  York 
City;  B.  F.  Seitner,  Dayton,  Ohio;  A.  C.  Collins,  Hartford, 
Conn.  Its  membership  includes  most  of  the  prominent 
Pointer  men  in  the  country,  but  the  limits  of  our  space  pre- 
clude the  possibility  of  giving  the  full  list. 


140  THE  AMERICAN   BOOK    OF  THE   DOG. 

Pointer  breeders  should  not  lose  sight  of  the  lack  of 
uniformity  in  type  with  which  the  friends  of  the  dog  have 
always  had  to  contend.  Large  dogs  and  small  dogs,  long 
and  short,  have  been  interbred  so  that  it  is  difficult  to 
predict  uniformity  in  type  in  any  litter.  Greater  care 
should  be  exercised  in  this  regard,  and  the  two  weights  of 
dogs  should  be  carefully  bred  within  themselves.  An 
occasional  graft  of  the  heavy  breed  onto  the  light  weight 
might,  however,  be  allowed,  with  a  view  to  counteracting 
excessive  fineness  of  bone  and  muscle  in  the  latter,  and 
heaviness  in  the  former. 

DESCRIPTION — VALUE   OF   POINTS — COLOR — SIZE. 

The  style  of  dog  that  is  now  being  bred  in  the  United 
States  conforms  entirely  to  the  description  given  by  Stone- 
henge  in  his  valuable  work  on  the  "Dogs  of  the  British 
Isles"  — a  standard  that  has  also  been  adopted  for  judging 
by  the  Westminster  Kennel  Club,  of  New  York,  for  use  at 
their  annual  bench  shows,  and  which  is  generally  used 
throughout  the  country.  For  the  benefit  of  the  readers  of 
this  work,  the  epitomized  description  compiled  by  the  late 
William  M.  Tileston  is  herewith  given,  as  follows: 

The  skull  (value  10)  should  be  of  good  size,  but  not  as 
heavy  as  in  the  old  Spanish  Pointer,  and,  in  a  lesser  degree, 
his  half-bred  descendants.  It  should  be  wider  across  the 
ear  than  that  of  the  Setter,  with  the  forehead  rising  well  at 
the  brows,  showing  a  decided  "stop."  A  full  development 
of  the  occipital  protuberance  is  indispensable,  and  the 
upper  surface  should  be  in  two  slightly  rounded  flats,  with 
a  furrow  between. 

The  nose  (value  10)  should  be  long  (four  inches  to  four 
and  three-fourths  inches)  and  broad,  with  widely-open 
nostrils.  The  end  must  be  moist,  and  in  health  is  cold  to 
the  touch.  It  should  be  black,  or  very  dark  brown,  in  all 
but  the  lemon-and- whites;  but  in  them  it  may  be  a  deep 
flesh-color.  It  should  be  cut  oif  square,  and  not  pointed- 
known  as  the  " snipe-nose,"  or  "pig- jaw."  Teeth  meeting 
evenly. 


THE   POINTER.  141 

The  ears,  eyes,  and  lips  (value  4)  are  as  follows:  Ears 
soft  in  coat,  moderately  long  and  thin  in  leather,  not  fold- 
ing like  the  Hound's,  but  lying  fiat  and  close  to  the  cheeks, 
and  set  on  low,  without  any  tendency  to  prick.  Eyes  soft 
and  of  medium  size;  color  brown,  varying  in  shade  with  that 
of  the  coat.  Lips  well  developed,  and  frothing  when  in 
work,  but  not  pendent  or  flew-like. 

The  neck  (value  6)  should  be  arched  toward  the  head, 
long  and  round,  without  any  approacli  to  dewlap  or  throat- 
iness.  It  should  come  out  with  a  graceful  sweep  from 
between  the  shoulder-blades. 

The  shoulders  and  chest  (value  15)  are  dependent  on  each 
other  for  their  formation.  Thus  a  wide  and  hooped  chest 
can  not  have  the  blades  lying  flat  against  its  sides;  and  con- 
sequently, instead  of  this  and  their  sloping  backward,  as 
they  ought  to  do  in  order  to  give  free  action,  they  are 
upright,  short,  and  fixed.  Of  course,  a  certain  width  is 
required  to  give  room  for  the  lungs,  but  the  volume 
required  should  be  obtained  by  depth  rather  than  width. 
Behind  the  blades  the  ribs  should,  however,  be  well  arched, 
but  still  deep;  this  last,  depth  of  back  rib,  is  specially 
important. 

The  bacTc,  quarters,  and  stifles  (value  15)  constitute  the 
main  propellers  of  the  machine,  and  on  their  proper 
development  the  speed  and  power  of  the  dog  depend.  The 
loin  should  be  very  slightly  arched,  and  full  of  muscle, 
which  should  run  well  over  the  back  ribs;  the  hips  should 
be  wide,  with  a  tendency  even  to  raggedness,  and  the 
quarters  should  droop  very  slightly  from  them.  These  last 
must  be  full  of  firm  muscle,  and  the  stifles  should  be  well 
bent  and  carried  widely  apart,  so  as  to  allow  the  hind  legs 
to  be  brought  well  forward  in  the  gallop,  instituting  a  form 
of  action  which  does  not  tire. 

Legs,  elbows,  and  liocks  (value  12).— These  chiefly  bony 
parts,  though  merely  the  levers  by  which  the  muscles  act, 
must  be  strong  enough  to  bear  the  strain  given  them,  and 
this  must  act  in  the  straight  line  of  progression.  Substance 
of  bone  is  therefore  demanded,  not  only  in  the  shanks  but 


142  THE  AMERICAN   BOOK   OF   THE   DOG. 

in  the  joints,  the  knees  and  hocks  being  especially  required 
to  be  bony.  The  elbows  should  be  well  let  down,  giving  a 
long  upper  arm,  and  should  not  be  turned  in  or  out,  the 
latter  being,  however,  the  lesser  fault  of  the  two,  as  the 
confined  elbow  limits  the  action  considerably.  The  reverse 
is  the  case  with  the  hocks,  which  may  be  turned  in  rather 
than  out,  the  former  being  generally  accompanied  by  that 
wideness  of  stifles  which  I  have  already  insisted  on.  Both 
hind  and  fore  pasterns  should  be  short,  nearly  upright,  and 
full  of  bone. 

The  feet  (value  8)  are  all-important;  for,  however  fast 
and  strong  the  action  may  be,  if  the  feet  are  not  well 
shaped  and  their  horny  covering  hard,  the  dog  will  soon 
become  foot-sore  when  at  work,  and  will  then  refuse  to  leave 
his  master's  heels,  however  high  his  courage  may  be. 
Breeders  have  long  disputed  the  comparative  good  quali- 
ties of  the  round,  cat-like  foot,  and  the  long  one,  resem- 
bling that  of  the  hare.  In  the  Pointer,  my  own  opinion  is 
in  favor  of  the  cat-foot,  with  the  toes  well  arched  and  close 
together.  This  is  the  desideratum  of  the  M.  F.  H.,  and  I 
think  stands  work  better  than  the  hare-foot,  in  which  the 
toes  are  not  arched,  but  still  lie  close  together.  In  the  Set- 
ter, the  greater  amount  of  hair  to  a  certain  extent  condones 
the  inherent  weakness  of  the  hare-foot;  but  in  the  Pointer 
no  such  superiority  can  be  claimed.  The  main  point,  how- 
ever, is  the  closeness  of  the  pads  compared  with  the  thick- 
ness of  the  horny  covering. 

The  stern  (value  5)  must  be  strong  in  bone  at  the  root, 
but  should  at  once  be  reduced  in  size  as  it  leaves  the  body, 
and  then  gradually  taper  to  a  point  like  a  bee's  sting.  It 
should  be  very  slightly  curved,  carried  a  little  above  the 
line  of  the  back,  and  without  the  slightest  approach  to  curl 
at  the  tip. 

Of  symmetry  and  quality  (value  7)  the  Pointer  should 
display  a  goodly  proportion,  no  dog  showing  more  differ- 
ence between  the  gentleman  and  his  opposite.  It  is  impos- 
sible to  analyze  the  essentials,  but  every  judge  carries  the 
knowledge  with  him. 


THE   POINTER.  143 

The  texture  (value  3)  of  coat  in  the  Pointer  should  be 
soft  and  mellow,  but  not  absolutely  silky. 

In  color  (value  5)  there  is  now  little  choice,  in  point  of 
fashion,  between  the  liver  and  lemon-and- whites.  After 
them  come  the  black-and- whites  (witli  or  without  tan), 
then  the  pure  black,  and  lastly  the  pure  liver.  Dark  liver- 
ticked  is,  perhaps,  the  most  beautiful  color  of  all  to  the 
eye. 

While  on  this  question  of  color,  it  may  be  appropriate  to 
remark  that  fashion  and  caprice  have  always  been  con- 
sulted in  awarding  the  palm  of  preference  to  one  color  over 
another;  however,  the  liver-and- white  dogs  have  been  the 
most  generally  sought  after,  taking  it  all  through,  and  are 
the  popular  dogs  of  the  present  day.  After  them  come  the 
lemon-and- whites  and  orange-and-whites.  The  latter  color 
was,  at  one  time,  popularized  by  Mr.  Whitehouse,  whose 
strain,  headed  by  Hamlet,  proved  most  excellent  animals. 
The  Duke  of  Kingston's  strain  of  black  Pointers  was  also 
at  one  time  quite  the  thing  among  sportsmen  in  England, 
and  some  most  excellent  dogs  of  that  color  are  now  owned 
in  this  country,  being  largely  descended  from  the  kennels 
of  Mr.  Pope. 

With  regard  to  the  weight  of  pointers,  it  is  customary, 
in  the  shows  in  this  country,  to  separate  them  into  two 
divisions — dogs  weighing  over  and  under  fifty-five  pounds, 
and  bitches  weighing  over  and  under  fifty  pounds.  On  this 
point,  Mr.  Yero  Shaw  remarks  as  follows: 

For  old  sportsmen,  the  heavy  dogs,  partaking,  as  they  do,  largely  of  the 
character  of  tile  old  Spanish  Pointer,  are  chiefly  to  be  recommended,  as  from 
their  greater  weight  they  are  not  so  fast  or  so  active  in  the  field.  On  the  other 
hand,  there  is  a  far  greater  development  of  pace  to  be  found  in  the  light 
weights,  and  their  stanchness  in  many  instances  is  very  slightly,  if  at  all, 
inferior  to  the  heavier  animals.  ...  It  may,  therefore,  we  are  of  opinion, 
be  taken  that  the  medium-sized  Pointers  are,  as  a  rule,  by  far  more  valuable  as 
sporting  dogs  than  either  of  the  extremes  in  weight,  as  they  may  be  reasonably 
expected  to  combine  pace  and  stanchness  to  an  extent  which  is  likely  to  com- 
mend itself  to  every  sort  of  sportsman.  It  is,  we  believe,  a  pretty  generally 
admitted  fact  among  sportsmen  that  modern  Pointers  are  deficient  in  nose  when 
compared  with  what  they  used  to  be;  in  other  words,  nose  has  been  sacrificed 
by  the  almost  insane  importance  which  has  been  attached  to  pace.  Breeders 


144 


THE  AMERICAN   BOOK    OF   THE   DOG. 


appear  to  have  in  many  instances  only  had  in  view  the  production  of  an  animal 
that  can  gallop,  and  thereby  cover  more  ground  than  other  dogs  which  might 
be  brought  against  them;  and  nose  has  thereby  suffered  to  a  great  extent. 

With  regard  to  breeding,  management,  and  training, 
nothing  further  need  be  added  to  those  departments  of 
canine  lore  than  can  be  found  elsewhere  in  this  volume,  for 
the  observations  and  instructions  given  on  those  points 
with  especial  reference  to  other  breeds  will  apply  with 
equal  force  to  the  Pointer.  This  dog  is  easily  bred  true  to 
type,  is  not  difficult  to  rear  and  keep  in  a  state  of  health, 
and  is  more  easily  trained  than  any  other  sporting  dog; 
also  remembering  his  lessons  the  best. 


THE  GREYHOUND. 


BY  COL.  ROGER  D.  WILLIAMS. 


jf|  T  is  not  my  intention  to  trace  the  history  of  the  Grey- 
hound from  his  origin,  through  his  gradual  improve- 
/il  ment  and  development,  up  to  the  present  state  of 
perfection.  Nor  shall  I  repeat  all  the  arguments  that 
have  been  advanced  by  other  writers  as  to  the  origin  and 
the  derivation  of  the  name  of  this  breed;  yet  a  few  lines 
may  not  be  amiss  as  to  his  early  history.  The  exact  date 
of  the  origin  of  the  Greyhound  is  unknown,  but  represen- 
tations upon  Egyptian  monuments,  tombs,  and  obelisks 
prove  beyond  perad venture  his  existence  over  three  thou- 
sand years  ago.  According  to  Holinshed,  the  breed  was 
first  introduced  into  Britain  during  the  third  century. 
Other  authorities,  probably  not  as  reliable,  claim  as  early 
as  B.  C.  25. 

Arrian,  writing  in  his  Cynegetticus,  about  A.  D.  150, 
describes  coursing  in  many  of  its  details.  Thus  it  will 
be  seen  that  this  sport  is  of  great  antiquity — at  least  seven- 
teen hundred  years  old. 

The  early  Egyptians  had  several  breeds  of  dogs,  but  the 
Greyhounds  were  evidently  always  their  favorites.  They 
looked  upon  them  with  great  veneration,  and  the  death  of 
one  of  them  was  lamented  as  a  misfortune.  With  them 
they  were  considered  a  valuable  animal,  and  occupied  a 
conspicuous  place  in  their  households  and  traditions. 

Herodotus  has  recorded  that  when  a  Greyhound  died, 
all  the  members  of  the  family  to  whom  he  belonged  shaved 
their  heads,  and  the  body  of  the  dog  was  buried  in  conse- 
crated ground.  In  olden  times,  none  but  the  nobility  were 
allowed  to  own  Greyhounds;  and  the  killing  of  one,  under 
the  then  existing  game  laws,  was  punishable  with  death. 

10  (145) 


146  THE   AMERICAN   BOOK    OF   THE  DOG. 

The  Gauls  coursed  with  Greyhounds — both  the  smooth 
and  rough  coated  varieties — for  the  pleasure  and  excite- 
ment of  the  chase.  The  oldest  coursing  club  we  have  any 
record  of  was  that  founded  by  Lord  Orford,  at  Norfolk,  in 
1776.  At  the  present  day,  there  are  a  large  number  in 
England  alone.  The  natives  of  Sahara  (Northern  Africa) 
have  great  love  and  admiration  for  the  Greyhound.  No 
matter  how  useful  other  breeds  may  be  in  watching,  hunt- 
ing, etc.,  they  are  looked  upon  as  comparatively  worth- 
less, troublesome,  and  deserving  of  the  great  amount  of 
abuse  usually  heaped  upon  them;  while  the  rich  regard  the 
Greyhounds  as  fit  companions  for  their  pastimes,  and  to  the 
poor  they  prove  bread,  or  rather  meat,  winners;  therefore, 
neither  class  begrudge  them  the  best  of  care  and  attention. 
Herds  of  goats  are  often  kept  to  feed  the  Hounds,  and 
instances  are  recorded  of  women  themselves  having  nursed 
the  whelps  of  a  particularly  promising  litter. 

Sir  Walter  Scott  was  a  great  admirer  of  dogs,  and  was 
especially  fond  of  the  Greyhound.  His  famous  dog,  Maida, 
was  presented  to  him  by  the  Chief  of  Glengarry.  It  is 
said  that  this  dog  could  eat  from  his  master's  table  stand- 
ing flat-footed.  He  was  said  to  be  the  finest  specimen  of  the 
breed  in  Scotland,  not  only  on  account  of  his  symmetry  of 
form,  but  also  on  account  of  his  extraordinary  size  and 
strength.  He  had  a  cross  of  Staghound  in  him.  Scott's 
poem  to  Bonny  Heck,  a  celebrated  Greyhound,  will  live  as 
long  as  the  memory  of  Scott  itself.  Kings,  and  noblemen 
of  all  ranks,  in  all  ages,  have  loved  and  fostered  the  Grey- 
hound, and,  have  honored  him  with  a  place  in  their  homes 
and  by  their  firesides. 

By  his  respect  for  decency,  his  cleanliness,  and  his  dig- 
nified aspect,  the  Greyhound  sustains  the  exalted  position 
he  occupies;  and  the  daintiness  with  which  he  handles 
coarse  or  unclean  food  proclaims  him  the  aristocrat  of  all 
canines.  He  is  full  of  self-love  and  vanity,  rivaling  the 
peacock  in  these  qualities.  He  is  much  more  affectionate 
than  he  generally  gets  credit  for  being,  and  there  are  few 
passions  felt  by  man  that  he  does  not  share.  Nor  is  he 


THE   GREYHOUND.  147 

devoid  of  imagination,  as  many  suppose.  I  have  often  seen 
an  old  courser,  in  his  dreams,  work  himself  into  almost  a 
frenzy  while  pursuing  an  imaginary  jack-rabbit;  jump  to 
his  feet,  and  then  appear  to  feel  very  silly  when  he  has 
found  that  he  was  merely  dreaming. 

There  can  be  no  doubt  that  the  English,  Scotch,  Persian, 
Russian,  Grecian,  and  Italian  Greyhound,  the  Irish  and 
Siberian  Wolfhound,  the  Scotch  Deerhound,  and  the 
Whippet,  are  but  varieties  of  the  same  breed.  Stonehenge 
classifies  and  divides  the  English  Greyhounds  into  the 
Newmarket,  Lancashire,  Yorkshire,  and  Wiltshire.  These, 
however,  seem  to  amount  to  distinctions  without  differ- 
ences. 

None  of  the  native  American  dogs,  so  far  as  known,  in 
any  way  resembled  the  Greyhound.  The  native  wild  dog 
of  Australia  is  built  on  the  same  lines  as  the  Greyhound, 
but  is  nearly  extinct,  being  now  rarely,  if  ever,  met  with. 
In  Africa,  India,  Ceylon,  and  other  tropical  countries,  the 
ordinary  breeds  of  hunting  dogs,  especially  the  Pointer, 
the  Foxhound,  and  Bloodhound,  deteriorate  rapidly,  both 
physically  and  mentally,  losing  strength  and  energy;  but 
such  climate  seems  to  have  but  little,  if  any  effect,  on  the 
Greyhound.  These  dogs  seem  equally  at  home  in  high 
altitudes,  being  capable  of  great  and  continued  exertions, 
even  as  high  as  timber  line. 

In  shape  and  form,  the  modern  Greyhound  is  far  supe- 
rior to  that  of  olden  times,  if  we  may  judge  by  the  por- 
traits and  engravings  handed  down  to  us.  In  elegance  of 
form,  the  improvement  has  been  very  marked,  especially  in 
the  beauty  of  the  head  and  neck. 

The  qualities  desired  in  this,  the  most  elegant,  the  hand- 
somest of  his  race,  are  speed,  courage  (without  which 
he  is  not  worth  kennel-room),  strength,  stanchness,  and 
endurance.  He  must  have  an  affectionate  disposition,  but 
must  also  have  plenty  of  vital  force,  dash,  and  spirit. 

It  is  a  general  supposition  that  the  Greyhound  is  entirely 
devoid  of  the  power  of  scent.  This  is  a  great  mistake,  as 
can  be  attested  by  anyone  who  has  ever  hunted  them,  gen- 


148  THE    AMERICAN   BOOK    OF   THE   DOG. 

erally,  in  the  West,  upon  large  game.  Of  course,  scent  is 
not  as  well  developed  in  the  Greyhound  as  in  other  breeds, 
because  the  uses  to  which  he  is  put  do  not  require  scent, 
and,  under  the  law  of  evolution,  it  has  deteriorated  as  a 
natural  consequence.  Unrivaled  in  speed  and  endurance, 
these  qualities  have  been  developed  and  bred  for,  while 
the  olfactory  organs  have  been  neglected,  necessarily,  by 
restricting  the  work  of  the  dog  to  sight-hunting. 

Size  and  external  form  are  of  the  greatest  importance. 
Yet  the  fact  that  they  can  and  do  run  in  various  sizes  and 
forms  is,  nevertheless,  generally  apparent.  These  cases,  of 
course,  are  the  exception,  and  in  making  selection  of  stud 
dogs,  or  brood  bitches,  it  should  be  remembered  that  those 
formed  in  the  mold  most  like  the  greatest  number  of  win- 
ners, will  be  the  speediest. 

For  open  coursing  on  rabbits,  I  prefer  a  dog  of  medium 
size,  say  fifty-five  pounds,  because,  being  nimble  in  turning, 
he  is  enabled  to  work  close  to  the  game,  and  to  rapidly  run 
up  a  large  score  of  points,  when  once  placed,  that  a  larger, 
more  unwieldy,  and  longer-coupled  dog,  that  necessarily 
runs  wide  at  the  turns,  can  not  wipe  out,  unless  placed 
repeatedly.  For  general  use,  on  the  Western  plains,  the 
larger  and  stronger  the  dog  the  better;  for,  by  his  immense 
powers  of  endurance,  hardihood,  and  strength,  he  brings 
the  larger  game  to  bay,  and  either  holds,  kills,  or  harasses 
it  until  the  arrival  of  his  master. 

My  old  Snowflight,  standing  thirty  inches  at  shoulder, 
weighing  one  hundred  pounds,  measuring  sixty -five  inches 
from  tip  to  tip,  the  hero  of  many  a  hard-fought  battle  on 
the  Plains  and  in  the  Rockies,  also  winner  of  numerous 
coursing  matches,  and  first  prizes  on  the  bench,  was  the 
typical  dog  for  this  purpose.  The  smaller  dogs  would 
stand  but  little  show  against  the  sharp  hoofs  and  pointed 
antlers  of  the  mule  deer  and  buck  antelope,  to  say  noth- 
ing of  the  glistening  ivories  of  the  gray  timber- wolf,  who 
is  a  most  formidable  antagonist  when  run  down  to  a  death 
finish. 

For  an  inclosed  coursing  meeting,  similar  to  those  held 


TH1J  GREYHOUND. 


149 


by  the  National  and  Eastern  Coursing  Clubs,  the  smaller 
dogs  have  an  undoubted  advantage  over  either  of  the 
former.  Misterton,  winner  of  the  Waterloo  Cup  in  1879, 
the  greatest  sire  of  modern  times,  having  taken  in  over 
$20,000  in  stud  fees,  trained  and  ran  at  sixty-three  pounds. 
Princess  Dagmar,  who  sold  at  public  auction  for  $8,000, 
weighed  fifty-eight  pounds.  Coomassie,  twice  winner  of 
the  Waterloo  Cup,  weighed  but  forty-two  pounds  when  in 


CHAMPION  MASTER   RICH.* 
Owned  by  Rockwood-Landseer  Greyhound  Kennels,  Lexington,  Ky. 

working  condition;  while  Honey  wood  raced  in  great  form 
at  sixty -four  pounds.     Mullingar,  winner  of  more  money 

*  Master  Rich  (A.  K.  C.  S.  B.,  No.  10976)  was  whelped  May  20,  1887. 
His  height  at  shoulder  is  twenty-nine  inches;  weight,  sixty-five  pounds.  His 
winnings  are :  First  in  the  Derby,  American  Coursing  Club,  1888;  first, 
Chicago,  1889;  first,  Akron,  1889;  first,  Richmond,  Ind.,  1889;  first,  Columbus, 
18S9;  first,  Knoxville,  1889;  second,  New  York,  1890;  second,  Chicago,  to  his 
kennel  mate,  1890;  first,  Baltimore,  1890;  first,  Boston,  1890;  first  in  challenge 
class,  Cincinnati,  1890.— ED. 


150  THE    AMERICAN   BOOK    OF   THE   DOG. 

than  any  other  courser,  is  even  larger  than  his  sire,  Mister- 
ton.  Among  the  winners  and  runners-up  at  the  meetings  of 
the  American  Coursing  Club,  Sandy  Jim,  Master  Rich,  Lord 
Neversettle,  and  Trales  are  large, -Belle  P.,  Midnight,  and 
Whitesocks  are  medium,  and  Bessie  Lee,  Meta,  and  White 
Lips  are  small. 

DESCRIPTION. 

The  head  should  be  long  and  narrow,  slightly  widening 
at  the  back;  low  between  the  eyes;  however,  not  cut  away, 
or  dished,  along  the  nose;  jaw  lean  and  full-muscled. 

The  eye  should  be  bright,  quick,  and  full,  denoting  ani- 
mation. 

The  ears  should  be  small,  and  carried  close. 

The  teeth  should  be  white,  strong,  and  of  sufficient  length 
to  take  and  retain  a  firm  hold. 

Neck-length  and  pliability  are  of  the  greatest  impor- 
tance, and  should  never  be  overlooked.  A  short  neck  will 
not  only  impede  action,  but  pace  as  well.  It  should  be 
well-muscled,  but  not  enough  so  to  affect  its  flexibility  and 
suppleness. 

Chest  and  loins. — The  chest  should  be  deep  and  hatchet- 
shaped,  and  yet  not  too  wide  for  the  shoulders  to  play 
smoothly  upon.  Some  authorities,  Stonehenge  among 
them,  claim  great  depth  of  chest  a  fault.  This  I  have 
never  found  true.  A  chest  must  have  capacity  to  hold  the 
heart  and  lungs,  and,  as  width  undoubtedly  interferes  with 
the  movement  and  actions  of  the  fore  quarters,  in  depth 
only  can  the  heart  and  lungs  get  free  action. 

The  back  should  be  broad  and  square,  well  arched,  with 
a  roll  of  muscle  standing  clear  above  each  side  of  the  spine. 
Many  prefer  the  flat,  straight  back  so  popular  in  England 
at  one  time;  but  for  an  all-around  good  dog,  at  both  long 
and  short  distances,  the  arched  back  is  far  preferable.  The 
length  of  back  should  be  between  shoulder  and  last  rib, 
rather  than  between  last  rib  and  hip-bone.  If  too  much 
length  to  the  latter,  the  power  to  make  a  quick  turn  or 
wrench  will  be  seriously  interfered  with.  The  loins  should 


THE  GREYHOUND.  151 

not  only  be  wide  and  strong,  but  deep,  with  a  good  meas- 
urement around.  Herein  lies  the  power  to  gather  quickly 
and  extend. 

The  tail  should  be  long,  and  tapered,  and  nicely  curved, 
though  not  ringed;  not  too  coarse,  though  it  may  be  heavy 
at  the  butt. 

Fore  quarters.—  Elbows  straight,  neither  turned  in  nor 
out.  The  distance  from  the  elbow  to  the  knee  should  not 
be  less  than  double  same  from  knee  to  ground.  Oblique 
shoulder-blades,  to  allow  the  legs  to  be  well  thrust  forward. 
Shoulder  muscular,  without  being  over-developed  or  loaded; 
strong  pastern  joints,  well  stood  upon;  feet  compact,  rather 
round  than  long;  perfectly  straight  knuckles,  well  up. 

Toes  close,  with  long  claws;  sole  thick  and  tough,  and 
indurated  by  use. 

Hind  quarters. — The  hind  quarters  are  the  chief  agent 
in  propulsion,  and  should  be  strong  and  wide  across.  The 
stifle  should  be  well  bent;  legs  set  straight,  with  no  ten- 
dency to  cow- hock;  mediumly  well  apart,  and  short  from 
hock  to  ground,  with  plenty  of  strength  below  the  hock. 
Muscles  hard  and  firm,  and  unless  they  are  large  and  pow- 
erful in  haunches  and  thighs,  both  speed  and  endurance 
will  be  lacking.  The  hind  feet  should  not  be  too  round, 
nor  toes  too  upright;  yet  this  is  preferable  to  the  long,  flat 
foot  that  lacks  elasticity  and  springiness.  A  moderately 
flat  hind  foot  will  be  found  to  stand  the  strain  better. 

Color  and  coat. — Color  I  have  never  known  to  cut  any 
figure;  however,  I  have  never  seen  a  rich,  red  brindle  that 
did  not  prove  a  good  stayer  in  a  killing  race  of  three  to  five 
miles.  I  believe  it  but  a  coincidence,  however,  that  Belle 
P.,  Master  Rich,  Bessie  Lee,  Rich  and  Rare,  and  Trales, 
winners  at  American  Coursing  Club  meetings,  were  all 
brindle.  The  mouse  or  blue  color  seems  to  be  most  in 
demand,  though  the  red  or  fawn  color  is  oftener  met 
with.  The  texture  of  the  coat  is  a  proof  of  good  breed- 
ing. It  should  be  neither  coarse  nor  fine;  should  be  short 
rather  than  long.  Above  all,  avoid  the  woolly  or  fur  coat, 
as  it  is  a  sure  sign  of  a  cross,  and  generally  denotes  a 


152  THE  AMERICAN   BOOK   OF   THE   DOG. 

delicate  constitution,  besides  being  hard  to  keep  clean  and 
healthy 

The  following  are  the  relative  values  of  points  in  judg- 
ing for  the  bench :  Head,  10;  chest,  15;  legs,  15;  neck,  10; 
loin,  15;  tail,  5;  back  ribs,  10;  feet,  15;  color  and  coa.t,  5. 
Total,  100. 

The  improvement  of  the  Greyhound  in  this  country, 
within  the  past  two  or  three  years,  has  been  very  marked; 
and  nowhere  is  it  better  demonstrated  than  at  the  meetings 
of  the  American  Coursing  Club.  I  predict  that  within  ten 
years  the  fabulous  prices  realized  in  England  will  be  dupli- 
cated here.  R.  F.  Walsh,  of  London,  in  a  recent  letter  to 
the  Philadelphia  Times,  however,  gives  some  startling 
figures  in  connection  with  Greyhounds.  He  states  that 
4 'over  £1,000,000  is  paid  at  long  odds  on  the  'long  odds' 
chances  of  the  Waterloo  Cup.  Thomas  Walsh,  of  Kin- 
sale,  Ireland,  refused  £1,000  for  Willful  King  when  but  a 
puppy.  Mr.  Gladstone  was  offered  £6,500  for  a  promising 
puppy;  and  Mr.  Crosse,  owner  of  Cui  Bono,  often  paid  as 
high  as  £2,000  for  a  good  Greyhound." 

TRAINING. 

The  successful  breeding  and  training  of  a  kennel  of 
Greyhounds  is  a  precarious  matter,  requiring,  in  unlimited 
quantities,  capital  and  patience,  coupled  with  firmness  and 
judgment,  and  a  large  fund  of  love  for  the  dog.  Unfortu- 
nately, many  men,  though  possessing  many  good  qualities, 
do  not  number  among  them  a  due  consideration  for  their 
canine  friends.  They  are  apt  to  think  that  anything  is 
good  enough  for  a  dog,  either  in  the  way  of  food,  shelter, 
or  bedding.  This  is  a  serious  error.  Anything  that  is 
unfit  for  a  human  being  is  unfit  for  a  good  dog. 

Exercise  is  as  necessary  to  a  Greyhound's  health  and 
spirits  as  sufficient  food  itself  is  to  other  breeds.  Almost 
invariably,  proper  exercise  is  denied  them.  They  should  be 
constantly  in  the  open  air,  or  should  have  access  to  same, 
and  should  not  be  injured  by  the  restraints  of  a  kennel,  or 
enervated  by  the  heat  of  a  close  room  or  fire. 


THE   GREYHOUND.  153 

In  preparing  a  dog  for  a  certain  meeting,  or  a  special 
event,  he  should  be  specially  taken  in  hand  not  less  than 
four  weeks  in  advance;  and  if  he  has  not  had  sufficient 
active  and  regular  work  previously  to  keep  his  muscles 
hard  and  his  flesh  down,  five  weeks  will  be  necessary.  The 
first  'point  to  be  ascertained  is  the  general  health  of  the 
dog,  and  he  should  be  watched  carefully  and  closely  for  a 
few  days.  To  insure  his  being  free  from  worms,  after  a 
twenty-four-hour  fast,  he  should  be  given  a  pill  of  thirty 
grains  of  areca-nut  and  four  grains  of  santonine,  followed 
two  hours  later  with  a  dose  of  castor-oil. 

See  that  he  is  entirely  free  of  vermin,  eczema,  and  sores 
of  all  kinds.  Never  trust  an  attendant  to  feed  for  you— 
see  personally  every  mouthful  the  dog  eats.  It  is  the  con- 
stant watchfulness  of  a  dog's  every  movement,  action,  and 
mood  that  denotes  the  thorough  trainer.  The  result  to  be 
obtained  should  come  from  proper  feeding — quality,  and 
not  quantity  of  food,  being  the  end  to  be  considered.  No 
rules  as  to  the  quantity  of  food  can  be  given,  as  dogs  vary 
too  much  in  their  demands;  the  too  rapid  increase  or 
decrease  of  flesh  should  regulate  this.  I  do  not  believe  in 
the  sloppy  food  and  stirabouts,  containing  oat  and  corn 
meal,  so  highly  recommended  by  many,  but  prefer  slightly 
cooked  beef,  with  table-scraps  containing,  where  possible, 
vegetables  and  bread. 

The  bowels  can  be  kept  in  proper  condition  by  an  occa- 
sional feed  of  Spratt's  Greyhound  biscuits,  and  where 
these  can  not  be  had,  corn-bread,  with  cracklings,  baked 
hard  and  brown,  will  be  found  a  cheap  and  excellent  sub- 
stitute. If  very  constipated,  boiled  liver  should  be  given, 
in  preference  to  harsh  medicines.  If  the  dog  will  eat  it 
raw,  its  laxative  powers  will  be  found  more  beneficial  in  this 
state.  The  digestive  canal  of  a  dog  is  especially  sensitive 
to  the  action  of  medicines,  and  they  should  only  be  used  as 
a  last  resort.  A  couple  of  raw  eggs  once  or  twice  a  week 
can  be  given,  especially  should  the  coat  feel  rough,  and  be 
lacking  in  gloss.  During  the  first  few  days  of  training,  the 
dog  should  be  taught  obedience;  and  this  I  have  always 


154  THE  AMERICAN   BOOK   OF  THE   DOG. 

found  promptly  and  willingly  rendered.  He  should  be 
taught  to  come  to  heel  and  remain,  and  to  range  forward 
when  ordered.  It  is  absolutely  necessary  that  he  be  taught 
to  fence  fearlessly,  and  to  jump  in  and  out  of  vehicles  at 
command.  Strict  attention  to  this  will  save  much  trouble 
and  worry  later  on. 

Never  punish  a  Greyhound  unnecessarily,  and  never  at 
all  unless  he  understands  thoroughly  what  it  is  for.  When 
once  thoroughly  under  command,  he  will  remain  so,  rarely 
requiring  punishment;  in  this  respect  being  unlike  other 
dogs  that  are  credited  with  more  sense. 

The  first  day,  the  trainer,  mounted  on  horseback,  or  in  a 
vehicle,  should,  after  feeding  a  biscuit,  have  the  dog  (if 
two,  they  should  be  coupled  with  swivel  couples)  follow 
him  a  distance  of  five  miles,  taking  a  moderate  gait,  avoid- 
ing turnpikes  and  macadamized  roads  where  possible. 
Upon  return  to  the  kennels,  the  feet  and  legs  should  be 
thoroughly  washed  and  dried  and  minutely  inspected;  then 
well  bathed  in  listerine;  some  use  tannic  acid  and  glycerine. 
The  objection  to  this  is  that  it  hardens  the  pad  of  the  foot, 
which  thereby  loses  its  toughness,  and  causes  it  to  crack. 
The  entire  body  should  then  be  well  rubbed  and  frictioned 
by  the  hand — never  against  the  grain.  The  muscles  of  the 
thighs,  shoulders,  fore  legs,  and  loins  should  be  well 
kneaded  and  manipulated  for  not  less  than  thirty  minutes 
each  day. 

On  the  second  day,  the  run  may  be  increased  to  ten 
miles,  followed  promptly  by  the  same  treatment  upon 
return  to  the  kennel.  From  this  on,  the  distance  can  be 
increased  a  mile  daily  until,  at  the  commencement  of  the 
third  week,  he  can  do  his  twenty  miles  a  day,  with  no 
signs  of  being  sore-footed  or  stiff.  This  work  should  get 
his  muscles  and  wind  in  proper  condition,  and  remove  all 
superfluous  flesh,  inside  and  outside.  At  this  stage,  speed, 
to  a  certain  extent,  must  be  sacrificed  to  lasting  qualities 
and  stamina,  and  training  should  be  conducted  so  as  to 
develop  the  general  muscular  powers,  especially  in  the 
heart  and  lungs.  Care  should  be  taken,  however,  not  to 


THE   GREYHOUND.  155 

force  beyond  his  capacity  or  to  overwork  a  young  dog,  as 
the  aim  will  be  attained  at  a  sacrifice  of  durability,  with 
diminished  strength  of  constitution.  During  the  last  week, 
the  distance  can  be  cut  down  gradually  to  a  couple  of  miles 
daily,  until  the  day  before  the  event,  a  simple  gallop  across 
the  turf  should  find  him  in  a  high  state  of  efficiency  as  to 
wind  and  powrer  to  sustain  fatigue. 

During  this  training,  if  the  dog  has  never  before  been 
slipped  upon  jack-rabbits,  he  should  have  from  two  to  three 
courses  a  week  on  these,  being  slipped  with  a  single  good 
worker,  willing  and  capable  of  doing  his  share.  If  you 
want  a  true  and  honest  worker,  do  not  work  him  on  too 
many  jacks,  and  never  in  a  crowd  of  dogs,  as  he  will  soon 
learn  to  run  cunning,  thereby  ruining  his  chance  as  a  stake- 
winner;  for  the  habit  once  acquired  is  seldom  overcome. 

Never  blanket  your  dog  during  training,  if  it  can  be 
avoided;  but  have  blankets  at  hand,  in  case  of  cold  or  wet 
weather  during  the  meeting.  Working  a  dog  under  blank- 
ets to  reduce  flesh  is  more  injurious  than  beneficial.  The 
better  plan  is  to  increase  his  work,  and  change  the  quality, 
not  the  quantity,  of  his  food.  The  day  of  the  running,  the 
dog  should  be  kept  muzzled.  Two  or  three  hours  before 
going  to  the  slips,  feed  one-quarter  pound  of  raw  meat, 
chopped  fine,  with  an  egg  broken  over  it.  Feed  nothing 
more  till  night.  See  that  the  dog  has  an  opportunity  to 
relieve  his  bowels. 

While  in  the  slips,  stay  close  to  him,  and  watch  carefully 
for  any  signs  of  his  having  picked  up  a  sand-bur,  prickly- 
pear,  or  cactus;  and  in  case  he  does  so,  it  should  be 
promptly  removed.  If  he  shows  any  indication  of  a  desire 
to  relieve  himself,  see  that  the  slipper  indulges  him.  This 
is  important. 

Encourage  him  with  your  presence,  and  do  all  you  legiti- 
mately can  to  see  that  he  is  sighted  promptly.  Spare  no 
pains  or  expense  in  getting  a  good  mount,  and  keep  as  close 
as  possible  to  him  during  the  course.  After  the  kill,  take 
him  up  at  once,  sponge  out  his  mouth,  give  him  a  few  swal- 
lows of  water  from  a  bottle,  and  rub  gently,  yet  firmly, 


156  THE  AMERICAN   BOOK   OF  THE   DOG. 

until  natural  breathing  returns.  If  very  much  exhausted, 
a .  little  cold  coffee  may  be  given  him  from  a  bottle. 
Blanket  close,  and  keep  moving  briskly,  out  of  draft. 
After  a  course,  wash  and  examine  the  stoppers,  dew-claws, 
nails,  and  feet  thoroughly.  When  a  nail  or  claw  is  partly 
detached,  trim  it  neatly  with  sharp  scissors,  bathe  thor- 
oughly in  listerine,  and  before  going  to  the  slips  for 
another  course,  rub  with  caustic,  which  will  deaden  the 
pain. 

Should  the  stoppers  be  injured,  make  a  light  cap  or 
patch,  with  soft  kid,  and  apply  with  warm  shoemaker's 
wax.  This  is  far  preferable  to  the  boot,  as  not  interfering 
with  the  movement  and  action  of  the  legs.  Should  the  dog 
go  lame  in  the  fore-arms,  through  a  wrench,  twist,  or  over- 
exertion,  do  not  let  anyone  persuade  you  to  "fire1'  him. 
While  it  undoubtedly  stiffens  and  strengthens  the  muscles 
temporarily,  the  custom  is  a  barbarous  one,  seldom  effect- 
ive, and  the  after-results  disastrous.  Try  the  effect  of 
complete  rest,  rubbing  and  bathing  freely  in  Pond's 
Extract. 

Never,  under  any  circumstances,  dispute  the  decision  of 
a  judge.  It  is  time  wasted.  If  you  are  satisfied  you  are 
not  getting  justice,  draw  your  dog. 

If  the  dog  is  to  be  trained  for  track  or  flat  racing,  the 
same  treatment  should  be  given,  with  the  following  excep- 
tions :  Limit  the  maximum  distances  to  fifteen  miles  a  day, 
and  at  the  commencement  of  the  second  week,  take  a  pair 
of  well-mated  dogs  to  a  level  stretch  of  country,  or,  better 
still,  a  race  or  trotting  track.  Place  them  at  the  head  of 
the  quarter  or  home  stretch,  in  independent  slips,  handled 
by  an  attendant  with  whom  they  are  not  familiar.  Engage 
and  retain  their  attention  as  you  walk  off,  say  a  furlong; 
flourish  a  red  flag,  call  them  sharply,  and  as  soon  as  both 
are  well  sighted,  have  the  attendant  slip  them.  When  they 
reach  you,  show  your  appreciation  of  their  smartness; 
encourage  them,  pet  and  fondle  them,  giving  each  a  small 
bit  of  biscuit.  This  should  be  repeated  several  times,  night 
and  morning,  taking  care  to  stop  as  soon  as  they  show  the 


THE   GREYHOUND.  157 

first  signs  of  flagging  interest.  The  distance  can  be  gradu- 
ally increased  daily,  as  desired.  Should  one  of  the  pair 
show  a  disposition  to  bite,  play  with,  or  jostle  his  mate, 
slip  the  faster  dog  a  second  or  two  sooner.  Should  the 
faster  dog  be  the  offender,  a  spiked  collar  on  the  other  will 
soon  teach  him  better  manners.  You  will  be  astonished  to 
find  how  rapidly  they  learn,  and  what  genuine  interest  they 
take  in  this  sport. 

In  preparing  for  the  bench,  the  foregoing  instructions 
for  training  should  be  followed  as  nearly  as  possible;  but  as 
there  are  many  who  probably  have  not  such  facilities,  to 
them  I  say:  Give  all  the  exercise  you  possibly  can;  teach 
your  dog  to  retrieve  a  swiftly  thrown  ball;  have  him  follow 
you  as  much  as  possible,  and  train  him  to  jump  a  cane, 
stick,  or  umbrella;  and  indulge  him  in  it  to  the  fullest 
extent,  for  he  will  soon  become  fond  of  it.  Rub,  knead, 
and  roll  all  his  muscles  a  half -hour  at  a  time,  and  not  less 
than  three  times  a  day.  Brush  briskly  with  a  stiff  hair- 
brush, and  finish  off  with  soft  chamois-skin.  Clean  his 
teeth  thoroughly,  removing  all  discolorations.  Give  sev- 
erai  good  dressings  to  his  coat  with  oil  of  tar  and  sulphur, 
followed  by  bath  in  tepid  water,  using  the  yelks  of  eggs 
instead  of  soap.  Keep  blanketed  when  not  exercising. 
Feed  as  many  eggs  as  his  stomach  will  stand  without 
becoming  bilious,  and  let  him  lap  a  pint  of  milk  daily. 

Teach  him  to  lead  kindly  with  the  chain,  and  to  stand 
perfectly  still,  with  head  and  neck  extended,  feet  and  legs 
straight,  and  well  under  him.  Do  not  feed  for  twenty -four 
hours  previous  to  judging.  A  few  minutes  before  taking 
into  the  judge's  ring,  however,  give  a  small  piece  of  raw 
beef,  say  the  size  of  two  fingers.  While  in  the  ring,  do  not 
crowd  your  dog  up  close  to  the  judge,  but  get  as  far  away 
as  the  ring  will  permit.  If  he  is  a  good  one,  the  judge  will 
never  overlook  him.  If  the  sawdust  in  the  ring  is  deep, 
clear  a  space,  that  his  feet  and  toes  may  be  seen. 

If  you  do  not  succeed  in  getting  his  muscles  hard  and 
firm,  stomach  off,  and  body  devoid  of  surplus  flesh,  forfeit 
your  entrance  money  and  keep  him  at  home.  When  show- 


158  THE   AMERICAN    BOOK   OF   THE   DOG. 

ing  on  the  bench,  ascertain  the  location  of  the  nearest 
vacant  lot  or  park  to  the  exhibition  building,  and  give  him 
a  good  long  romp  of  not  less  than  an  hour  daily.  If  unac- 
customed to  the  "patent  biscuits"  usually  fed  at  bench 
shows,  feed  on  lean  beef  or  mutton. 

If  these  instructions  are  carried  out  faithfully,  the  con- 
dition of  your  dog  will  remain  good  for  several  weeks; 
otherwise  the  close  of  the  first  show  on  the  circuit  will  find 
him  a  physical  wreck.  When  at  home,  between,  dates  of 
shows,  keep  up  his  work,  even  if  it  be  only  for  a  few  days. 

CARE  AND    WASHING. 

Greyhounds  are  naturally  cleanly,  and  require  but  little 
washing.  When  necessary  (never  before),  make  a  solution 
of  one  part  Carbolic  Sheep  Dip  to  fifteen  parts  lukewarm 
water;  never  ^use  hot  water  on  a  dog  under  any  circum- 
stances; soak  thoroughly,  rubbing  well  in  with  the  hand, 
being  careful  of  the  eyes.  Follow  this  immediately  with 
a  mild  soap.  Bathe,  and  finish  up  by  lathering  freely  with 
the  yelks  of  several  eggs.  Drench  with  cold  water,  and 
rub  thoroughly  dry.  No  dog  subjected  to  this  treatment, 
regularly,  will  ever  be  troubled  with  vermin,  eczema,  or 
mange  in  any  of  its  forms.  If  persisted  in,  it  will  cure 
the  worst  case  of  chronic  mange  that  can  be  found. 

As  before  stated,  the  digestive  canal  of  the  dog  is  par- 
ticularly irritable,  and  very  sensitive  to  the  action  of  medi- 
cines; therefore,  give  as  little  medicine  as  possible.  When 
medicine  must  be  given,  it  should  be  administered  with 
caution,  in  homeopathic  doses.  Rather  give  him  access  to 
a  woodland  or  garden  once  or  twice  a  day,  and  he  will  find 
Nature's  remedies  for  his  ailments. 

FOOD. 

The  Greyhound  is  seldom  a  glutton,  and  naturally 
requires  but  little  food,  except  when  in  training.  Once 
in  twenty-four  hours  is  as  often  as  he  should  be  fed,  and 
a  fast  of  forty -eight  hours  causes  no  inconvenience.  Avoid 
grease  and  fatty  substances.  While  boiled  corn-meal  is  a 


THE   GREYHOUND.  159 

most  excellent  food  for  the  average  dog — especially  the 
Foxhound — it  should  rarely,  if  ever,  be  given  to  a  Grey- 
hound, it  is  very  heating  in  its  nature.  Greyhounds  are 
especially  susceptible  to  skin  diseases,  and  if  they  do  not 
get  an  abundance  of  exercise  while  fed  upon  mush,  will 
break  out  in  troublesome  sores  and  eczema.  For  a  steady 
diet,  table-scraps  containing  bone,  with  an  occasional  meal 
of  vegetables,  will  keep  them  in  excellent  condition.  Never 
give  them  any  food  until  it  is  perfectly  cold;  and,  where 
possible,  have  a  regular  hour  for  feeding — late  in  the  after- 
noon being  the  best  time. 

The  kennels  should  be  dry  and  well  ventilated,  with  an 
elevated  sleeping-bench,  .with  circulation  of  air  under  it. 
No  bedding  at  all  in  summer,  and  hemp  hurds  in  winter. 
These  remain  free  of  vermin  and  moisture,  and  preserve 
the  gloss  of  the  dog's  coat. 

I  have  here  advocated  the  simpler,  cheaper,  and  more 
practical  methods  of  training,  showing,  and  rearing  Grey- 
hounds. I  am  fully  aware  that  many  of  the  swell  own- 
ers, who  dress  their  imported  Greyhound  pets  in  costly 
blankets,  feed  them  high-priced  patent  foods,  wash  them 
with  scented  soaps,  and  have  a  valet  walk  them  through 
the  parks,  will  turn  up  their  noses  at  these  instructions; 
but  whenever  their  pets  meet  dogs  that  have  been  treated 
as  I  have  directed,  either  on  the  bench  or  in  the  field,  the 
difference  will  be  as  glaringly  apparent  to  their  owners  as 
to  others. 

BREEDING   AND   REARING. 

In  the  breeding  of  bitches  and  rearing  of  whelps,  the 
same  rules  apply  to  Greyhounds  as  to  other  breeds.  I  have 
often  had  Greyhound  bitches,  especially  the  younger  ones, 
refuse  to  allow  the  dog  to  serve  them,  although  fully  in 
heat.  It  is  common  to  use  force  upon  such  occasions: 
This  should  never  be  allowed;  but  repeated  trials  should  be 
made.  Nature  will  regulate  the  matter  finally. 

While  in  whelp,  the  bitch  should  have  plenty  of  exer- 
cise, and,  until  too  heavy,  an  occasional  hunt.  She  should 


160 


THE  AMERICAN   BOOK   OF  THE   DOG. 


not  be  allowed  to  get  too  heavy  in  flesh,  nor  yet  kept  too 
thin;  a  medium  between  the  two  should  be  maintained. 
Remove  the  dew-claws  on  puppies  when  one  week  old,  pull- 
ing them  off  with  pincers;  it  will  be  unattended  with  pain. 
Allow  the  puppies  to  remain  with  the  bitch  as  long  as 
her  condition  warrants  it.  Should  you  desire  to  train  or 
show  the  bitch  after  whelping,  provide  a  foster-mother 


CHAMPION    BALKIS. 
Owned  by  Mr.  H.  W.  Huntington,   148  South  Eighth  street,  Brooklyn,  N.  Y. 


are 


for  the  puppies,  and  gradually  relieve  her  until  all 
transferred. 

After  weaning,  the  puppies  should  be  fed  three  or  four 
times  a  day  (not  less),  and  should  be  given  bones  to  gnaw. 
If  there  be  not  plenty  of  limestone  in  the  water  used,  a 
little  phosphate  of  lime  sprinkled  on  their  food  once  a  day 
will  strengthen  and  enlarge  their  bones,  thereby  preventing 
standing  over,  or  springing  of  the  knees,  so  common  in 
young  Greyhounds. 


THE   GREYHOUND.  161 

The  inclosed  coursing  meetings,  recently  introduced  into 
this  country,  and  rapidly  becoming  popular,  will  do  much 
to  increase  the  popularity  of  the  Greyhound,  and  awaken 
interest  in  coursing  in  the  Middle  and  Eastern  States.  At 
the  same  time,  they  will  have  a  tendency  to  destroy  some  of 
the  best  and  strongest  qualities  of  this  breed,  such  as  stam- 
ina and  staying  qualities.  I  predict  that  it  will  be  but  a 
short  time,  comparatively,  until  a  weak,  light  specimen,  of 
the  Whippet  order — capable  of  a  fast  short  spurt — will  be 
much  sought  after;  while  the  great,  game  animal,  with  the 
heart  and  courage  of  a  lion,  capable  of  keeping  up  his 
speed  to  the  end  of  a  bruising  four  or  five  mile  course,  will 
be  confined  to  the  open  meetings  of  the  Far  West. 

Great  credit  is  due  the  following  gentlemen,  among 
others,  for  their  untiring  efforts  in  advancing  the  Grey- 
hound interests  in  America :  Mr.  H.  W.  Huntington,  New 
York;  Dr.  Q.  Van  Hummell,  Kansas  City;  Montgomery 
Phister,  Cincinnati;  Dr.  N.  Howe,  Chicago;  Dr.  G.  Irwin 
Royce,  D.  IN".  Heizer,  M.  E.  Allison,  H.  C.  Lowe,  Kansas; 
A.  C.  Lighthall,  Denver,  and  C.  G.  Page,  Nebraska. 

Among  other  prominent  breeders  or  owners  of  Grey- 
hounds may  be  mentioned  the  Devon  Kennels,  82  Front 
street,  New  York  City;  Alpine  Kennels,  Thirty-eighth 
street  and  First  avenue,  New  York  City;  J.  Herbert  Wat- 
son, 79  Downing  street,  Brooklyn,  N.  Y.;  John  E.  Thayer, 
Lancaster,  Mass.;  J.  Yan  Schaick,  32  Broad  street,  New 
York  City;  Woodhaven  Kennels,  Woodhaven,  Long  Island, 
N.  Y. ;  Mrs.  Sarah  Leggett  Emory,  253  Fifth  avenue,  New 
York  City;  F.  G.  Stuart,  box  83,  Hoosick  Falls,  N.  Y.; 
W.  E.  Stevens,  Riverside,  111.;  Frank  Welch,  box  172, 
Lemont,  111.;  A.  M.  Young,  93  Park  street,  Albany,  Ind.; 
Ed.  G.  Howell,  Denver,  Colo.;  D.  H.  Stine,  Newport,  Ky., 
and  Middleton  Kennels,  Cassopolis,  Mich. 

Among  the  many  good  dogs  which  Mr.  Huntington  has 
imported  or  bred  may  be  mentioned  Champion  Balkis,  a 
large,  up-standing,  well-built  dog,  and  a  famous  bench-show 
winner,  both  in  this  country  and  in  England.  His  winnings 

in  America  are : 
11 


162  THE   AMERICAN   BOOK    OF   THE  DOG. 

First  and  special,  Hartford,  1887;  first  and  special,  Bos- 
ton, 1887;  first  and  special,  Troy,  1888;  champion  and 
special,  New  York,  1888;  champion,  New  Haven,  1888; 
champion,  Boston,  1888;  champion  and  special,  Buffalo, 
1888;  champion  and  special,  Syracuse,  1888;  champion, 
New  Bedford,  1889;  champion  and  special,  New  York,  1889; 
challenge,  Troy,  1889;  challenge,  Albany,  1889;  challenge, 
Utica,  1889;  challenge,  Worcester,  1889;  second  challenge, 
Boston,  1889;  challenge,  Toronto,  1889;  first,  Danbury, 
1889;  one  special,  Danbury,  and  two  specials,  Toronto, 
1889;  challenge,  New  York,  1890;  challenge,  Boston,  1890; 
challenge,  Buffalo,  1890. 

Mr.  Huntington's  Highland  Chief  is  a  handsome  white 
and  black  dog,  and  though  only  three  years  old,  has  the 
following  winnings  to  his  credit : 

First,  special,  and  second  special,  Syracuse,  1888;  first, 
Richmond,  1888;  first  and  special,  New  Bedford,  1889; 
special,  New  York,  1889;  first,  Troy,  1889;  first,  Albany, 
1889;  first  and  special,  Utica,  1889;  first  challenge,  Chicago, 
1890;  second  challenge,  New  York,  1890;  third  and  special, 
Buffalo,  1888;  third,  New  York,  1889. 

Among  Mr.  Allison's  best  dogs  are: 

Champion  Sandy  Jim  (5337),  who  won  first  at  Great 
Bend  in  1886,  and  first  in  all-age  stakes  at  same  meet- 
ing. 

Reno  Belle  (5342),  runner-up  in  championship  stake  at 
same  meeting,  is  the  mother  of  Sandy  Jim. 

Terry,  litter  brother  of  Sandy  Jim,  was  runner-up  in  the 
all- age  stake  at  the  same  meeting. 

Mr.  H.  C.  Lowe's  White  Lips  is  a  remarkably  clever 
bitch.  She  has  seldom  been  exhibited  at  bench  shows  in 
this  country,  but  has  done  some  good  work  at  coursing 
meets,  and  has  an  excellent  record  for  field-work  on  ante- 
lopes, wolves,  and  jack-rabbits.  I  consider  her  one  of  the 
quickest  and  closest  workers  on  jack-rabbits  I  have  ever 
seen,  and  nothing  but  force  of  circumstances  held  her  down 
to  the  position  of  runner-up  in  the  American  cup  race  in 
both  1888  and  1889. 


THE   GREYHOUND.  163 

A  general  impression  prevails  that  the  Greyhound  is  a 
timid  animal,  lacking  heart  and  courage.  This  may  be  true 
of  some  strains  of  the  breed;  but  could  the  reader  have 
ridden  several  courses  with  me  at  meetings  of  the  American 
Coursing  Club  which  I  have  judged,  and  have  seen  Grey- 
hounds, as  I  have  seen  them,  run  until  their  hind  legs 
refused  to  propel  them  farther,  and  then  crawl  on  their 
breasts  after  a  thoroughly  used-up  jack-rabbit  but  a  few 
feet  in  advance,  the  singing  and  whistling  in  their 
throats  audible  at  fifty  yards — literally  in  the  last  gasp 
of  death,  trying  to  reach  their  prey — he  or  she  would  agree 
with  me  in  crediting  them  with  both  the  qualities  men- 
tioned. 

In  hunting  the  antelope  it  is  not  an  uncommon  thing  to 
see  a  Greyhound,  especially  in  hot  weather,  continue  the 
chase  until  he  drops  and  dies  before  his  master  reaches  him. 
An  uninjured  antelope  is  capable  of  giving  any  Greyhound 
all  the  work  he  can  stand,  and  unless  the  latter  is  in  prime 
condition,  his  chances  are  poor  indeed  to  throttle.  A  pecul- 
iar feature  of  the  Greyhound  is  that  he -always  attacks 
large  game  in  the  throat,  head,  or  fore  part  of  the  body. 
I  have  even  seen  them  leave  the  line  of  the  jack-rabbit  to 
get  at  his  throat. 

Old  "  California  Joe,"  at  onetime  chief  of  scouts  with 
General  Custer,  in  1875  owned  a  grand  specimen  of  the 
Greyhound,  called  Kentuck,  presented  to  him  by  General 
Custer.  I  saw  this  dog  seize  and  throw  a  yearling  bull 
buffalo,  and  the  former  was  then  dragged  on  his  back  over 
rough  stones,  trampled  and  pawed  until  his  ears  were  split, 
two  ribs  broken,  and  neck  and  fore  shoulders  frightfully  cut 
and  lacerated,  yet  he  never  released  his  hold  until  a  Sharps 
rifle  bullet  through  the  heart  of  the  buffalo  ended  the 
unequal  struggle.  Talk  about  a  lack  of  courage !  What 
Mastiff,  Bulldog,  or  Great  Dane  could  excel  in  courage 
Old  Kentuck  ? 

I  have  seen  many  a  Greyhound,  single-handed  and  alone, 
overhaul  and  tackle  a  coyote,  and,  in  a  pack,  have  seen 
them  close  in  and  take  hold  of  a  timber  wolf  or  a  mountain 


164  THE  AMERICAN   BOOK   OF   THE  DOG. 

lion,  and  stay  through  the  fight,  coming  out  bleeding  and 
quivering,  with  hardly  a  whole  skin  among  them. 

Sir  Samuel  Baker,  in  his  explorations  in  Africa  and  his 
jungle-hunting  in  Ceylon,  was  always  accompanied  by  a 
pack  of  Greyhounds,  and  the  deeds  of  valor  performed  by 
them  on  wild  game,  as  recounted  by  him,  prove  their  cour- 
age beyond  doubt. 

In  point  of  speed,  courage,  fortitude,  endurance,  sagacity, 
and  fine,  almost  human,  judgment,  no  grander  animal  lives 
than  the  Greyhound.  He  knows  no  fear,  he  turns  from  no 
game  animal  on  which  he  is  sighted,  no  matter  how  large 
or  how  ferocious.  He  pursues  with  the  speed  of  the  wind, 
seizes  the  instant  he  comes  up  with  the  game,  and  stays  in 
the  fight  until  either  he  or  the  quarry  is  dead. 

The  following  revised  rules  have  been  adopted  as  the 
standard  for  American  coursing,  and  anyone  training  Grey- 
hounds should  be  perfectly  familiar  with  them  in  all  their 
details : 

1.  THE  JUDGE  shall  be  appointed  the  night  the  drawing  takes  place. 
The  slipper  and  other  field  officers  shall  also  be  appointed  on  the  night  of  the 
draw. 

2.  Two  WEEKS'  NOTICE  shall  be  given  of  the  day  of  the  drawing, 
through  the  public  press. 

3.  THE  DRAWING  shall  take  place  at  least  three  days  previous  to  the  run- 
ning, when  the  time  and  place  of  putting  the  first  brace  of  dogs  into  the  slips 
shall  be  declared.     A  card  or  counter,  bearing  a  corresponding  number,  shall 
be  assigned  to  each  entry.     These  numbered  cards  or  counters  shall  then  be 
placed  together  and  drawn  indiscriminately.     This  classification,  once  made, 
shall  not   be  disturbed   throughout   the  meeting,  except  for  the  purpose   of 
guarding,  or  on  account  of  byes.     Dogs  whose  position  on  the  cards  has  been 
altered  in  consequence  of  guarding,  or  of  byes,  must  return  to  their  original 
position  in  the  next  round,  if  guarding  does  not  prevent  it. 

4.  GUARDING. — When  more  than  one  nomination  in  a  stake  is  taken  in 
one  name,  the  Greyhounds,  if  bona  fide  the  property  of  the  same  owner,  shall 
be  gua'rded  throughout.     This  is  always  to  be  arranged,  as  far  as  possible,  by 
bringing  up  the  dogs  from  below  to  meet  those  which  are  to  be  guarded.    This 
guarding  is  not,  however,  to  deprive  any  dog  of  a  natural  bye  to  which  he 
may  be  entitled,  either  in  the  draw  or  in  running  through  the  stake. 

5.  BYES. — A  natural  bye  shall  be  given  to  the  lowest  available  dog  in 
each  round.     No  dog  shall  run  a  second  such  bye  in  any  stake,  unless  it  is 
unavoidable.     When  a  dog  is  entitled  to  a  bye,  either  natural  or  accidental, 


THE   GREYHOUND.  165 

his  owner  or  nominator  may  run  any  Greyhound  he  pleases,  to  assist  in  the 
course;  provided,  always,  that  in  sapling  stakes,  only  a  sapling  may  be  used, 
and  in  puppy  stakes,  none  older  than  a  puppy.  But  if  it  be  proven  to  the  sat- 
isfaction of  the  stewards  that  no  puppy  can  be  found  to  run  an  accidental  bye, 
the  owner  shall  have  the  power  of  substituting  an  old  dog.  No  dog  shall  run 
any  bye  earlier  than  his  position  on  the  card  entitles  him  to  do  so.  The  judge 
shall  decide  whether  enough  has  been  done  to  constitute  a  course,  or  whether 
it  must  be  run  again.  If  at  the  commencement  of  any  round  in  a  stake  one 
dog  in  each  course  has  a  bye,  those  byes  shall  not  be  run,  but  the  dogs  shall 
take  their  places  for  the  next  round  as  if  the  byes  had  been  run. 

6.  POSTPONEMENT  OP  A  MEETING. — A  meeting  appointed  to  take  place 
on  a  certain  day  may,  if  a  majority  of  the  committee  (and  the  stewards,  if 
appointed)  consider  the  weather  unfavorable  for  coursing,  be  postponed  from 
day  to  day;  but  if  the  running  does  not  commence  within  the  current  week, 
all  nominations  shall  be  void,  and  the  expenses  shall  be  paid  by  the  subscribers 
in  proportion  to  the  number  of  nominations  taken  by  each.     In  the  case  of 
produce  stakes,  however,  the  original  entries  shall  continue  binding,  if  the 
meeting  is  held  at  a  later  period  of  the  season. 

7.  TAKING  DOGS  TO  THE  SLIPS. — Every  dog  must  be  brought  to  the 
slips  in  proper  turn,  without  delay,  under  a  penalty  of  five  dollars  ($5).     If 
absent  for  more  than  ten  minutes  (according  to  the  report  of  any  one  of  the 
stewards),  its  opponent  shall  be  entitled  to  claim  the  course,  and  shall  in  that 
case  run  a  bye.     If  both  dogs  be  absent  at  the  expiration  of  ten  minutes,  the 
steward  shall  have  power  to  disqualify  both  dogs,  or  to  fine  their  owners  any 
sum  not  exceeding  twenty-five  dollars  ($25)  each.     No  dogs  shall  be  put  into 
the  slips  for  a  deciding  course  until  thirty  minutes  after  the  decision  of  the 
course  in  the  previous  round,  without  the  consent  of  its  owners. 

8.  CONTROL  OP  DOGS  IN  SLIPS. — The  control  of  all  matters  connected 
with  slipping  the  Greyhounds  shall  rest  with  the  stewards  of  a  meeting. 
Owners  or  servants,  after  delivering  their  dogs  into  the  hands  of  the  slipper, 
may  follow  close  after  them,  but  not  so  as  to  inconvenience  the  slipper  or  in 
any  way  interfere  with  the  dogs;  nor  must  they  halloo  them  on  while  running, 
under  a  penalty  of  five  dollars  ($5).     Any  Greyhound  found  to  be  beyond  con- 
trol may  be  loosed  out  of  the  slips,  and  the  course  decided  by  the  rules  of 
the  club. 

9.  GREYHOUNDS  OF   SAME  COLOR    TO  WEAR  COLLARS. —  When    two 
Greyhounds,  drawn  together,  are  of  the  same  color,  they  shall  each  wear  a 
collar,  and  the  owners  shall  be  subject  to  a  penalty  of  one  dollar  ($1)  for  non- 
observance  of  this  rule;  the  collar  to  be  red  for  the  left-hand  side  and  white 
for  the  right-hand  side  of  the  slips.     After  the  first  round,  the  upper  dog  on 
the  card  for  the  day  will  be  placed  on  the  left  hand,  and  the  lower  dog  on  the 
right  of  the  slips 

10.  THE  ORDER  TO  SLIP  may  be  given  by  the  judge  or  by  a  slip  steward, 
or  the  stewards  of  a  meeting  may  leave  the  slip  to  the  sole  discretion  of.  the  slip- 
per.    The  length  of  slip  must  necessarily  vary  with  the  nature  of  the  ground, 
but  should  never  be  less  than  eighty  yards,  and  must  be  maintained  of  one 
uniform  length,  as  far  as  possible,  through  each  stake. 


166  THE  AMERICAN    BOOK   OF  THE   DOG. 

11.  THE  SLIPPER.— If  one  Greyhound  gets  out  of  the  slips,  the  slipper 
shall  not  let  the  other  go.     In  the  case  of  slips  breaking,  and  either  or  both 
dogs  getting  away  in  consequence,  the  slipper  may  call  both  dogs  back  and 
put  them  again  in  the  slips,  at  the  discretion  of  the  stewards. 

12.  THE  JUDGE  shall  be  subject  to  the  general  rules  which  may  be  estab- 
lished by  the  American  Coursing  Club  for  his  guidance.     He  shall,  on  the  ter- 
mination of  each  course,  immediately  deliver  his  decision  aloud,  and  shall  not 
recall  or  reverse  his  decision,  on  any  pretext  whatever,  after  it  has  been 
declared;  but  no  decision  shall  be  delivered  until  the  judge  is  perfectly  satis- 
fied that  the  course  is  absolutely  terminated. 

13.  THE  JUDGE  shall  decide  all  courses  upon  the  one  uniform  principle  that 
the  Greyhound  which  does  the  most  toward  killing  the  hare,  during  the  con- 
tinuance of  the  course,  is  to  be  declared  the  winner.     The  principle  is  to  be 
carried  out  by  estimating  the  value  of  the  work  done  by  each  Greyhound,  as 
seen  by  him,  upon  a  balance  of  points,  according  to  the  scale  hereafter  laid 
down,  from,  which  also  are  to  be  deducted  certain  specified  allowances  and 
penalties — all  races  to  be  run  by  courses. 

14.  THE  POINTS  of  the  courses  are  : 

(a).  Speed. — Which  shall  be  estimated  as  one,  two,  or  three  points,  accord- 
ing to  the  degree  of  superiority  shown.  (See  definition  a  below.) 

(b).     The  Go-by. — Two  points,  or  if  gained  on  the  outer  circle,  three  points. 

(c).     The  Turn.— One  point. 

(d).     The  Wrench.—  Half  a  point. 

(e).  The  Kill. — Two  points,  or  in  a  descending  scale  in  proportion  to  the 
degree  of  merit  displayed  in  that  kill,  which  may  be  of  no  value. 

(/).     The  Trip.— One  point. 

DEFINITION  OF  POINTS. 

(a).  In  estimating  the  value  of  speed  to  the  hare,  the  judge  must  take  into 
account  the  several  forms  in  which  it  may  be  displayed,  viz. 

I.  Where,  in  the  run-up,  a  clear  lead  is  gained  by  one  of  the  dogs;  in 
which  case  one,  two,  or  three  points  may  be  given,  according  to  the  length  of 
the  lead,  apart  from  the  score  for  a  turn  or  wrench.     In  awarding  these  points, 
the  judge  shall  take  into  consideration  the  merit  of  a  lead  obtained  by  a  dog 
which  has  lost  ground  at  the  start,  either  from  being  unsighted  or  from  a  bad 
slip,  or  which  has  had  to  run  the  outer  circle. 

II.  When  one  Greyhound  leads  the  other  so  long  as  the  hare  runs 
straight,  but  loses  the  lead  from  her  bending  round  decidedly  in  favor  of  the 
slower  dog,  of  her  own  accord;  in  which  case  the  one  Greyhound  shall  score 
one  point  for  speed  shown,  and  the  other  dog  shall  score  one  for  first  turn. 

III.  Under  no  circumstances  is  speed  without  subsequent  work  to  be 
allowed  to  decide  a  course,  except  where  great  superiority  is  shown  by  one 
Greyhound  over  another  in  a  long  lead  to  covert. 

If  a  dog,  after  gaining  the  first  six.  points,  still  keeps  possession  of  the 
hare  by  superior  speed,  he  shall  have  double  the  prescribed  allowance  for  the 
subsequent  points  made  before  his  opponent  begins  to  score. 

(b).    The  Go-by  is  where  one  Greyhound  starts  a  clear  length  behind  his 


THE   GREYHOUND.  167 

opponent,  and  yet  passes  him  in  a  straight  run,  and  gets  a  clear  length  before 
him. 

(c).  The  Turn  is  where  the  hare  is  brought  round  at  not  less  than  a  right- 
angle  from  her  previous  line. 

(d).  The  Wrench  is  where  the  hare  is  bent  from  her  line  at  less  than  a 
right-angle;  but  where  she  only  leaves  her  line  to  suit  herself,  and  not  from 
the  Greyhound  pressing  her,  nothing  is  to  be  allowed. 

(e).  The  merit  of  a  Kill  must  be  estimated  according  to  whether  a  Grey- 
hound, by  his  own  superior  dash  and  skill,  bears  the  hare;  whether  he  picks 
her  up  through  any  little  accidental  circumstances  favoring  him,  or  whether 
she  is  turned  into  his  mouth,  as  it  were,  by  the  other  Greyhound. 

(/).  The  Trip,  or  an  unsuccessful  effort  to  kill,  is  where  the  hare  is  thrown 
off  her  legs,  or  where  a  Greyhound  catches  her,  but  can  not  hold  her. 

15.  THE  following  allowances  shall  be  made  for  accidents  to  a  Greyhound 
during  a  course;  but  in  every  case  they  shall  only  be  deducted  from  the  other 
dog's  score: 

(a).  For  losing  ground  at  the  start,  either  from  being  unsighted  or  from  a 
bad  slip,  the  judge  is  to  decide  what  amount  of  allowance  is  to  be  made,  on 
the  principle  that  the  score  of  the  foremost  dog  is  not  to  begin  until  the  second 
has  had  an  opportunity  of  joining  in  the  course. 

(&).  Where  a  hare  bears  very  decidedly  in  disfavor  of  one  of  the  dogs 
after  the  first  or  subsequent  turns,  the  next  point  shall  not  be  scored  by  the 
dog  which  may  be  unduly  favored,  or  only  half  his  point  allowed,  according 
to  circumstances.  No  Greyhound  shall  receive  any  allowance  for  a  fall,  or  any 
accident  of  any  description  whatever,  with  the  exception  of  being  ridden  over 
by  the  owner  of  the  competing  Greyhound  or  his  servant  (provided  for  by  Rule 
25),  or  when  pressing  the  hare,  in  which  case  his  opponent  shall  not  count  the 
next  point  made. 

16.  PENALTIES  are  as  follows: 

(a).  Where  a  Greyhound,  from  his  own  defect,  refuses  to  follow  the  hare 
at  which  he  is  slipped,  he  shall  lose  the  course. 

(b).  Where  a  Greyhound  willfully  stands  still  in  a  course,  or  departs  from 
directly  pursuing  the  hare,  no  points  subsequently  made  by  him  shall  be  scored; 
and  if  the  points  made  by  him  up  to  that  time  be  just  equal  to  those  made  by 
his  antagonist  in  the  whole  course,  he  shall  thereby  lose  the  course;  but  where 
one  or  both  dogs  stop  with  the  hare  in  view,  through  inability  to  continue  the 
course,  it  shall  be  decided  according  to  the  number  of  points  gained  by  each 
dog  during  the  whole  course. 

(c).  If  a  dog  refuses  to  fence  where  the  other  fences,  any  points  subse- 
quently made  by  him  are  not  scored;  but  if  he  does  his  best  to  fence,  and  is 
foiled  by  sticking  in  a  hedge,  the  course  shall  end  there.  When  the  points  are 
equal,  the  superior  fencer  shall  win  the  course. 

17.  IP  A  SECOND  HARE  be  started  during  course,  and  one  of  the  dogs 
follows  her,  the  course  shall  end  there. 

18.  A  "No  COURSE"  is  when,  by  accident  or  by  the  shortness  of  the 
course,  the  dogs  are  not  tried  together;  and  if  one  be  then  drawn,  the  other 
must  run  a  bye,  unless  the  judge,  on  being  appealed  to,  shall  decide  that  he 


168  THE  AMERICAN   BOOK   OF   THE   DOG. 

has  done  work  enough  to  be  exempted  from  it.  An  undecided  course  is  where 
the  judge  considers  the  merits  of  the  dogs  equal;  and  if  either  is  then  drawn, 
the  other  can  not  be  required  to  run  a  bye,  but  the  owners  must  at  the  time 
declare  which  dog  remains  in.  (See  Eule  21.)  The  judge  shall  signify  the 
distinction  between  a  "  no  course  "  and  an  "  undecided  "  by  taking  off  his  hat 
in  the  latter  case  only.  After  an  "undecided"  or  "no  course,"  if  the  dogs, 
before  being  taken  up,  get  on  another  or  the  same  hare,  the  judge  must  follow, 
and  shall  decide  in  favor  of  one,  if  he  considers  that  there  has  been  a  sufficient 
trial  to  justify  his  doing  so.  A  "no  course"  or  "undecided"  may  be  run 
again  immediately;  or,  if  claimed  on  behalf  of  both  dogs,  before  the  next 
brace  arc  put  into  the  slips;  or,  in  case  of  "no  course,"  if  so  ordered  by  the 
judge;  otherwise  it  shall  be  run  again  after  the  two  next  courses,  unless  it 
stand  over  to  the  next  morning,  when  it  shall  be  the  first  course  run.  If  it  is  the 
last  course  of  the  day,  fifteen  minutes  shall  be  allowed  after  both  dogs  are 
taken  up. 

19.  IMPUGNING  JUDGE. — If  any  person  openly  impugns  the  decision  of 
the  judge  on  the  ground,  he  shall  forfeit  not  more  than  $25,  nor  less  than  $10. 

20.  OBJECTIONS. — An  objection  to  a  Greyhound  may  be  made  to  any  one 
of  the  stewards  of  a  meeting  at  any  time  before  the  stakes  are  paid  over,  upon 
the  objector  lodging  in  the  hand  of  such  steward,  or  the  secretary,  the  sum  of 
$25,  which  shall  be  forfeited  if  the  objection  proves  frivolous,  or  if  he  shall  not 
bring  the  case  before  the  next  meeting  of  the  club,  or  give  notice  to  the  stew- 
ards previous  thereto  of  his  intention  to  withdraw  his  objection.     The  owner 
of  the  Greyhound  objected  to  must  also  deposit  $25,  and  prove  the  correct- 
ness of  his  entry.     All  expenses  in  consequence  of  the  objection  shall  be  borne 
by  the  party  against  whom  the  decision  may  be  given.     Should  an  objection  be 
made  which  can  not  at  the  time  be  substantiated  or  disproved,  the  Greyhound 
may  be  allowed  to  run  under  protest,  the  stewards  retaining  his  winnings  until 
the  objection  has  been  withdrawn,  or  heard,  and  decided.     If  the  Greyhound 
objected  to  be  disqualified,  the  amount  to  which  he  would  otherwise  have  been 
entitled  shall  be  divided  equally  among  the  dogs  beaten  by  him;  and  if  a  piece 
of  plate  or  prize  has  been  added,  and  won  by  him,  only  the  dogs  which  he  beat 
in  the  several  rounds  shall  have  a  right  to  contend  for  it. 

21.  WITHDRAWAL  OF  A  DOG. — If  a  dog  be  withdrawn  from  any  stake 
on  the  field,  its  owner,  or  someone  having  his  authority,  must  at  once  give 
notice  to  the  secretary  or  flag  steward.     If  the  dog  belongs  to  either  of  these 
officials,  the  notice  must  be  given  to  the  other. 

22.  STAKES  NOT  RUN  OUT. — When  two  Greyhounds  remain  in  for  the 
deciding  course,  the  stakes  shall  be  considered  divided  if  they  belong  to  the 
same  owner,  or  to  confederates,  and  also  if  the  owner  of  one  of  the  two  dogs 
induces  the  owner  of  the  other  to  draw  him  for  any  payment  or  consideration; 
but  if  one  of  the  two  be  drawn  without  payment  or  consideration,  from  lame- 
ness, or  from  any  cause  clearly  affecting  his  chance  of  winning,  the  other  may 
be  declared  the  winner,  the  facts  of  the  case  being  clearly  proved  to  the  satis- 
faction of  the  stewards.     The  same  rule  shall  apply  when  more  than  two  dogs 
remain  in  at  the  end  of  a  stake  which  is  not  run  out;  and  in  case  of  a  division 
between  three  or  more  dogs,  of  which  two  or  more  belong  to  the  same  owner, 


THE   GREYHOUND.  169 

these  latter  shall  be  held  to  take  equal  shares  of  the  total  amount  received  by 
their  owners  in  the  division.  The  terms  of  any  arrangements  to  divide  the 
winnings,  and  the  amount  of  any  money  given  to  induce  the  owner  of  a  dog  to 
draw  him,  must  be  declared  by  the  secretary. 

23.  WINNERS  OF   STAKES  RUNNING  TOGETHER. — If  two  Greyhounds 
shall  each  win  a  stake,  and  have  to  run  together  for  a  final  prize  or  challenge 
cup,  should  they  not  have  run  an  equal  number  of  ties  in  their  respective 
stakes,  the  Greyhound  which  has  run  the  smaller  number  of  courses  must 
run  a  bye,  or  byes,  to  put  itself  upon  an  equality  in  this  respect  with  its  oppo- 
nent. 

24.  GREYHOUND  GETTING  LOOSE. — Any  person  allowing  a  Greyhound  to 
get  loose,  and  to  join  in  a  course  which  is  being  run,  shall  be  fined  $5.     If  the 
loose  Greyhound  belong  to  either  of  the  owners  of  the  dogs  engaged  in  the 
particular  course,  such  owner  shall  forfeit  his  chance  of  the  stake  with  the 
dog  then  running,  unless  he  can  prove  to  the  satisfaction  of  the  stewards  that 
he  had  not  been  able  to  get  the  loose  Greyhound  taken  up  after  running  its 
own  course.     The  course  is  not  to  be  considered  as  necessarily  ended  when  a 
third  dog  joins  in. 

25.  RIDING  OVER  A  GREYHOUND. — If    any   subscriber,  or  his  servant, 
shall  ride  over  his  opponent's  Greyhound  while  running  in  a  course,  the  owners 
of  the  dog  so  ridden  over  shall  (although  the  course  be  given  against  him)  be 
deemed  the  winner  of  it,  or  shall  have  the  option  of  allowing  the  other  dog  to 
remain  and  to  run  out  the  stake,  and  in  such  case  shall  be  entitled  to  half  the 
winnings,  if  any. 

26.  DESCRIPTION  OF  ENTRY. — Every  subscriber  to  a  stake  must  name 
his  dog  at  or  before  the  entry,  giving  the  names  (the  running  names,  if  they  had 
any)  of  the  sire  and  dam  of  the  dog  entered,  if  possible,  with  the  color  of  the 
dog  entered.     For  puppy  stakes,  the  names,  pedigrees,  ages,  and  colors  shall  be 
detailed  in  writing  to  the  secretary  of  a  meeting  at  the  time  of  entry.     No 
Greyhound  is  to  be  considered  a  puppy  which  was  whelped  before  the  1st  of 
January  of  the  same  year  preceding  the  commencement  of  the  season  of  run- 
ning.    A  sapling  is  a  Greyhound  whelped  on  or  after  the  1st  of  January  of  the 
same  year  in  which  the  season  of  running  commenced,  and  any  Greyhound 
whose  marks  and  pedigrees  shall  be  proved  not  to  correspond  with  the  entrj* 
given,  shall  be  disqualified,  and  the  whole  of  its  stakes  or  winnings  forfeited. 

27.  BREEDING  PUPPIES. — Every  member  of  the  club  breeding  puppies 
shall  notify  the  secretary,  in  writing,  within  ten  days  after  the  birlh  of  any 
puppies,  of  the  number  of  dogs  and  bitches,  colors  and  other  distinguishing 
marks,  date  of  birth,  and  the  name  of  sire  and  dam.     Any  member  violating 
this  rule  will  not  be  allowed  to  enter  or  run  any  of  such  puppies  in  a  puppy  or 
sapling  stake. 

28.  ALTERATION  OF  NAME. — If  any  subscriber  should  enter  a  Grey- 
hound by  a  different  name  from  that  in  which  it  shall  have  last  run  in  public, 
he  shall  give  notice  of  the  alteration  to  the  secretary  at  the  time  of  entry,  and 
the  secretary  shall  place  on  the  card  both  the  late  and  present  name  of  the 
dog.     If  notice  of  the  alteration  be  not  given,  the  dog  shall  be  disqualified. 

29.  PREFIX  OF  "Ns." — Any  subscriber  taking  an  entry  in  a  stake,  and 


170  THE   AMERICAN    BOOK    OF   THE   DOG. 

not  prefixing  the  word  "names"  (Ns)  to  a  Greyhound  which  is  not  his  own 
property,  shall  forfeit  that  Greyhound's  chance  of  the  stake.  He  shall  like- 
wise, if  requested,  deliver  in  writing  to  the  secretary  of  the  meeting  the  name 
of  the  bonafide  owner  of  the  Greyhound  named  by  him;  and  this  communica- 
tion is  to  be  produced  should  any  dispute  arise  in  the  matter. 

30.  PAYMENT  OF  STAKES. — All  moneys  due  for  nominations  taken  must 
be  paid  at  or  before  the  entry,  whether  the  stakes  fill  or  not,  and  although, 
from  insufficient  description  or  any  other  cause,  the  dogs  named  may  be  dis- 
qualified.    No  entry  shall  be  valid  unless  the  amount  due  for  it  has  been  paid 
in  full.     For  all  produce  and  other  stakes  where  a  forfeit  is  payable,  no  decla- 
ration is  necessary;  the  non-payment  of  the  remainder  of  the  entry  money  at 
the  time  fixed  for  that  purpose  is  to  be  considered  a  declaration  of  forfeit. 
The  secretary  is  to  be  responsible  for  the  entrance  money  of  all  dogs  whose 
names  appear  upon  the  card 

31.  DEFAULTERS. — No  one  shall  be  allowed  to  enter  or  run  a  Greyhound 
in  his  own  or  any  other  person's  name  who  is  a  defaulter  for  either  stakes,  bets, 
dues,  or  fines. 

32.  JUDGE  OR  SLIPPER  INTERESTED. — If  a  judge  or  slipper  be  in  any  way 
interested  in  a  Greyhound  running,  the  stewards  shall  appoint  others  to  judge 
or  slip  any  course  which  that  Greyhound  may  run. 


THE   DEERHOUND. 


BY  Q.  VAN  HUMMELL,  M.  D. 


jj]  1ST  this  animal  we  have  the  aristocrat  of  all  the  canine 
I  race.  He  is  the  best  guard,  the  best  companion,  and 
/ll  is  capable  of  giving  us  more  royal  sport  than  any  other 
breed  of  sporting  dogs.  I  say  this  without  fear  of  suc- 
cessful contradiction.  A  high-bred  and  properly  trained 
Deerhound  has  more  courage  and  can  stand  more  punish- 
ment than  any  other  dog.  He  has  stronger  attachment  for 
his  master  or  mistress,  will  fight  for  him  or  her  quicker  and 
more  desperately,  will  never  forget  them,  and  when  taken 
to  the  field  he  can  run  fast  enough  to  catch  an  antelope,  a 
jack-rabbit,  coyote,  wolf,  deer,  or  elk,  and  can  kill  either  of 
them  alone  and  unaided.  He  will  tree  a  mountain  lion  or 
a  black  bear,  and  will  even  fight  a  grizzly  bear  long  enough 
for  you  to  climb  a  tree  or  get  off  a  good  distance,  so  that 
you  may  kill  him  without  danger  to  yourself. 

These  dogs  combine  more  rare  good  qualities  as  a  gentle- 
man's  companion  than  any  other  breed  in  the  known 
world. 

Idstone  says  of  them: 

Pet  dogs,  of  course,  are  a  matter  of  taste  and  locality,  and  space  must 
have  much  to  do  with  the  selection  of  a  companionable  dog.  If,  however,  size 
is  no  objection,  it  would  be  impossible  to  name  any  dog  superior  to  the  true 
Deerhound,  whether  employed  in  his  proper  vocation  or  not,  He  is  gentle  in 
manners,  unless  roused  by  the  sight  of  his  game  and  excited  to  pursue  it;  he  is 
no  sheep-biter;  he  is  a  good  guard;  he  "follows"  well;  he  can  keep  up  with 
hack  or  carriage;  he  is  not  a  self -hunter — that  is,  he  does  not  skulk  off  poach- 
ing; he  is  faithful  to  his  master;  he  is  gentle  with  children,  like  the  far-famed 
Gelert,  his  prototype;  and  he  is  majestic  in  appearance.  Witness  the  pict- 
ures of  him  by  Sir  Edwin  Landseer,  in  every  variety  of  attitude,  and  sharing 
in  all  the  pleasures — ay,  even  the  sorrows  of  his  master.  With  the  hawk  or 
falcon  he  made  up  the  equipment  of  the  old  baron,  and  slumbered  in  front  of 
his  yule-log,  shared  in  his  wassail  and  revelry,  and  formed  a  feature  in  his 


172  THE  AMEKICAN   BOOK   OF  THE   DOG. 

pageant  and  procession.  He  has  been  the  companion  of  kings  and  emperors, 
and  pulled  down  his  game  in  the  open  by  dexterity,  force,  and  speed,  without 
the  aid  of  toils  or  cross-bow — immaterial  to  him  in  old  days  whether  it  were 
boar,  wolf,  or  hart — no  day  too  long,  no  game  too  strong  or  dangerous,  until 
his  eye  became  dull,  his  limbs  stiff,  and  his  teeth  worn  down,  not  so  much 
with  years  as  the  hard  work,  exposure,  and  wounds  inseparable  from  his 
occupation,  and  he  was  retained  at  the  hall  or  grange  as  a  pensioner  or  a  com- 
panion for  the  rest  of  his  life. 

He  has  the  grand  form,  the  elegant  outline,  the  graceful 
attitudes  and  amiable  disposition  of  the  Greyhound,  but 
far  surpasses  him  in  harmonious  color  and  in  texture  and 
quality  of  coat.  The  writer  has  had  as  many  as  forty 
Deerhounds  in  his  kennels  at  one  time,  and  all  have  har- 
monized in  color  so  perfectly  as  to  please  the  eye  of  the  art 
connoisseur.  A  number  of  them  may  not  be  all  of  exactly 
the  same  color,  but  they  will  breed  true  to  a  color. 
They  may  be  steel-gray,  lemon,  or  tawny. 

One  family  that  came  from  Imported  Forum  was  canary- 
colored,  and  every  one  proved  true  to  that  color.  Not  so 
with  any  other  known  breed.  There  is  always  a  strong 
family  resemblance  in  a  strain  of  Deerhounds. 

A  dog  of  good  proportions  should  stand  thirty-one  inches 
at  the  shoulder;  should  measure  thirty-five  inches  around  the 
chest;  his  fore-arm  should  measure  from  eight  and  one-half 
to  nine  and  one-half  inches;  his  weight  should  be  from  ninety 
to  one  hundred  and  five  pounds.  He  should  be  compactly 
built — not  too  long  in  the  loin;  this  is  one  of  the  faults  in 
,  many  Deerhounds  of  the  present  day.  When  we  remember 
that  this  dog  must  have  great  speed,  must  often  make  im- 
mense leaps  after  his  game,  and  when  he  catches  it  must 
have  sufficient  power  to  kill  it — which  is  often  a  difficult 
task — we  see  the  necessity  of  a  powerful  muscular  con- 
formation. 

He  must  be  quick  at  a  turn,  to  avoid  the  sharp  hoof  of 
the  stag.  This  requires  a  short,  powerful  loin  and  strong 
quarters.  The  ooat  should  be  harsh,  not  wiry,  about  three 
inches  long;  and  there  should  be  a  good  thick  under-coat, 
bristly  at  the  muzzle.  On  shoulders,  neck,  and  back  the 
outer  coat  should  be  coarser  than  elsewhere.  The  head 


THE   SCOTCH   DEERHOUND.  173 

should  be  of  the  Greyhound  type,  only  stronger,  somewhat 
thicker,  and  more  powerful. 

The  eye  should  be  full,  intelligent,  and  of  dark  color. 
The  ear  should  be  small,  coated  with  fine,  short,  silky 
Lair  of  close  texture.  It  should  be  carried  close  to  the 
head  until  the  dog  is  excited,  when  it  should  stand  semi- 
erect. 

The  neck  should  be  strong  and  not  too  long.  The  Grey- 
hound neck  can  not  be  too  long,  because  he  must  reach  to 
the  ground  to  pick  up  his  game;  but  the  Deerhound,  if  a 
good  killer,  jumps  on  his  game's  neck,  and  hence  needs  no 
extra  length  in  his  neck,  but  does  need  extra  strength  there, 
as  elsewhere,  in  order  to  hold  on.  His  shoulders  should  be 
oblique  and  well  muscled,  his  back  strong  and  well  arched, 
his  hind  quarters  strong  and  powerfully  muscled.  His 
stifles  should  be  well  bent  and  his  hocks  well  let  dowrn. 

The  stem  should  be  large  at  the  wat.  This  denotes  a 
strong  spinal  column.  It  should  taper  down  gradually  to 
the  tip,  where  the  bone  should  be  fine.  It  should  be  well 
covered  with  coat,  and  curved  upward  and  sidewise.  It 
should  be  of  good  length. 

In  fact,  his  general  build  must  be  on  speed  lines.  His 
feet  must  be  close  and  high -knuckled,  of  the  cat-like  order. 
Here  is  where  the  Deerhound  will  first  weaken  if  not  prop- 
erly knit  and  closely  muscled.  His  work  in  following  his 
game  over  the  rocky  cliffs  and  over  fallen  timber,  at  full 
speed,  is  of  the  most  trying  kind.  The  writer  has  often 
seen  the  flat  or  hare-footed  Deerhound  get  foot-sore  in  a 
few  hours'  work,  while  the  strong-footed  dog  will  work 
day  after  day  for  an  entire  week,  and  never  show  distress. 

STANDARD   AND   POINTS   OF   JUDGING. 

In  skull  (value  10),  the  Deerhound  resembles  the  large, 
coarse  Greyhound,  it  being  long  and  moderately  wide, 
especially  between  the  ears.  There  is  a  very  slight  rise  at 
the  eyebrows,  so  as  to  take  off  what  would  otherwise  be  a 
straight  line  from  tip  of  nose  to  occiput.  The  upper  sur- 
face is  level  in  both  directions. 


174  THE  AMERICAN   BOOK   OF  THE   DOG. 

Nose  and  jaws  (value  5). — The  jaws  should  be  long,  and 
the  teeth  level  and  strong.  Nostrils  open,  but  not  very 
wide,  and  the  end  pointed  and  black;  cheeks  well  clothed 
with  muscle,  but  the  bone  under  the  eye  neither  prominent 
nor  hollow. 

Ears  and  eyes  (value  5). — The  ears  should  be  small  and 
thin,-,  and  carried  a  trifle  higher  than  those  of  the  smooth 
Greyhound,  but  should  turn  over  at  the  tips.  Pricked  ears 
are  sometimes  met  with,  as  in  the  rough  Greyhound,  but 
they  are  not  correct.  They  should  be  thinly  fringed  with 
hair  at  the  edges  only;  that  on  their  surface  should  be  soft 
and  smooth.  Eyes  full  and  dark-hazel;  sometimes,  by 
preference,  blue. 

The  neck  (value  10)  should  be  long  enough  to  allow  the 
dog  to  stoop  to  the  scent  at  a  fast  pace,  but  not  so  long  and 
tapering  as  the  Greyhound's.  It  is  usually  a  little  thinner 
than  the  corresponding  part  in  that  dog. 

Chest  and  shoulders  (value  10). — The  chest  is  deep 
rather  than  wide,  and  in  its  general  formation  it  resembles 
that  of  the  Greyhound,  being  shaped  with  great  elegance, 
and  at  the  same  time  so  that  the  shoulders  can  play  freely 
on  its  sides.  The  girth  of  a  full-sized  dog  Deerhound 
should  be  at  least  two  inches  greater  than  his  height,  often 
an  inch  or  two  more;  but  a  round,  unwieldy  chest  is  not  to 
be  desired,  even  if  girthing  well.  Shoulders  long,  oblique, 
and  muscular. 

Back  and  back  ribs  (value  10). — Without  a  powerful 
loin,  a  large  dog  like  this  can  not  sustain  the  sweeping 
stride  which  he  possesses,  and  therefore  a  deep  and  wide 
development  of  muscle,  filling  up  the  space  between  wide 
back  ribs  and  somewhat  rugged  hips,  is  a  desideratum. 
A  good  loin  should  measure  twenty-five  or  twenty-six 
inches  in  show  condition.  The  back  ribs  are  often  rather 
shallow,  but  they  must  be  wide,  or  what  is  called  "  well 
sprung,"  and  the  loin  should  be  arched,  drooping  to  the 
root  of  the  tail. 

Elbows  and  stifles  (value  10),  if  well  placed,  give  great 
liberty  of  action,  and  the  contrary  if  they  are  confined  by 


THE    SCOTCH    DEERHOUKD.  175 

being  too  close  together.  These  points,  therefore,  should 
be  carefully  examined.  The  elbows  must  be  well  let  down, 
to  give  length  to  the  true  arm,  and  should  be  quite  straight; 
that  is,  neither  turned  in  nor  out.  The  stifles  should  be 
wide  apart,  and  set  well  forward,  to  give  length  to  the 
upper  thigh.  Many  otherwise  well-made  Deerhounds  are 
very  straight  in  their  stifles. 

The  high  symmetry  (value  10)  of  this  dog  is  essential  to 
his  position  as  a  companionable  dog,  and  it  is  therefore 
estimated  accordingly.  Quality  is  also  to  be  regarded  as 
of  great  importance. 

Legs  and  quarters  (value  7|).— Great  bone  and  muscle 
must  go  to  the  formation  of  these  parts,  and  the  bones  must 
be  well  put  together  at  the  knees  and  hocks,  which  should 
be  long  and  well  developed.  The  quarters  are  deep,  but 
seldom  wide,  and  there  is  often  a  considerable  slope  to  the 
tail.  Some  of  the  most  successful  dogs  lately  exhibited 
have  been  nearly  straight-backed,  but  this  shape  is  not 
approved  of  by  deer-stalkers. 

The  feet  (value  7J)  should  be  well  arched  in  the  toes, 
and  cat-like;  a  wide-spreading  foot  is  often  met  with,  but 
they  should  be  specially  condemned. 

Color  and  coat  (value  10). — The  colors  most  in  request 
are  dark-blue,  fawn,  grizzle,  and  brindle,  the  latter  with 
more  or  less  tint  of  blue.  The  fawn  should  have  the  tips 
of  the  ears  dark,  but  some  otherwise  good  fawns  are  pale 
throughout.  The  grizzle  generally  has  a  decided  tint  of 
blue  in  it.  White  is  to  be  avoided  either  on  breast  or  toes, 
but  it  should  not  disqualify  a  dog.  The  coat  (value  5)  is 
coarser  on  the  back  than  elsewhere,  and  by  many  good 
judges  it  is  thought  that  even  on  the  back  it  should  be 
intermediate  between  silk  and  wool,  and  not  the  coarse  hair 
often  met  with;  and  there  is  no  doubt  that  both  kinds  of 
coat  are  found  in  some  of  the  best  strains.  The  whole  body 
is  clothed  with  a  rough  coat,  sometimes  amounting  to  shag- 
giness;  that  of  the  muzzle  is  longer  in  proportion  than  else- 
where; but  the  mustache  should  not  be  wiry,  and  should 
stand  out  in  regular  tufts.  There  should  be  no  approach 


176  THE  AMERICAN   BOOK    OF   THE   DOG. 

to  feather  on  the  legs,  as  in  the  Setter,  but  their  inside 
should  be  hairy. 

The  tail  (value  5)  should  be  long  and  gently  curved, 
without  any  twist.  It  should  be  thinly  clothed  with  hair 
only. 

Value.  Value. 

Skull 10    Symmetry  and  quality 10 

Nose  and  jaws 5    Legs  and  quarters 7i 

Ears  and  eyes 5    Feet. . .   7i 

Neck 10    Color  and  coat 10 

Chest  and  shoulders 10    Tail 5 

Back  and  back  ribs 10 

Elbows  and  stifles 10           Total 100 

The  origin  of  the  Deerhound  seems  to  be  shrouded  in 
mystery.  The  writer  has  owned  and  bred  Deerhounds  for 
over  thirty  years,  and  has  during  that  time  read  everything 
relating  to  them  that  he  could  obtain.  He  has  closely 
questioned  every  Scotchman  whom  he  has  met  concerning 
this  breed  of  dogs,  The  history  given  in  books  has  always 
proved  contradictory  and  of  no  avail;  while  every  well- 
informed  Scotchman  has  argued  that  the  Deerhound  was 
the  native  dog  of  the  Scottish  Highlands,  and  that  all  other 
Scotch  dogs  were  merely  the  result  of  crosses  of  the  Deer- 
hound  on  some  alien.  They  always  point  to  the  rough 
coats  of  the  Collie;  the  Terrier,  and  the  Scotch  Greyhound, 
and  say,  ' '  Don' t  it  show  for  itself  that  the  remote  cross  is 
there."  Yet  the  question  as  to  the  real  origin  of  tiie  breed 
is  still  a  mystery,  and  will  probably  always  remain  so. 

.  Up  to  1860,  Deerhounds  were  not  plentiful  in  England, 
and  but  few  were  exhibited  at  English  shows  for  some  years 
after  that  date.  America  at  that  time  had  but  few.  Scotch- 
men inform  me,  however,  that  in  the  Highlands  of  Scot- 
land they  were  always  plentiful,  but  owners  of  kennels 
cherished  them,  sold  none,  and  gave  away  but  few.  It  was 
some  years  after  the  above  date  that  inquiries  for  them 
began  to  be  frequent,  and  since  then  they  have  become 
immensely  popular  with  lovers  of  the  chase,  and  are 
rapidly  advancing  to  a  high  place  as  companions  for  both 
gentlemen  and  ladies.  Of  late  years,  certain  sportsmen  in 
the  Great  West  have  secured  many  fine  specimens. 


THE   SCOTCH   DEERHOU1O).  177 

BREEDING. 

It  is  presumed  that  the  breeder  owns  his  stud  dog  and 
brood  bitches,  and  hence  my  directions  will  be  applied  to 
both. 

All  dogs  of  the  high  nervous  organization  of  the  Hound 
require  a  large  amount  of  exercise  to  keep  them  in  proper 
muscular  development.  Therefore  I  would  advise  only  per- 
sons who  live  in  the  .open  country  to  try  the  breeding  of 
the  Scotch  Deerhound. 

This  breed  can  not  bear  confinement  in  close  quarters. 
It  is  safe  to  say  that  the  two  prominent  breeders  in  Amer- 
ica do  not  raise  one  out  of  ten  puppies  whelped  in  their 
kennels.  This  is  largely  owing  to  lack  of  proper  condition- 
ing of  sire  and  dam.  In  selecting  a  brood  bitch,  take  one 
with  strong  loin  and  roomy  chest,  not  under  two  years  old. 

For  two  months  before  she  is  due  in  season,  give  her 
from  ten  to  fifteen  miles  of  regular,  slow  exercise  behind  a 
horse.  To  properly  muscle  a  Deerhound  it  is  not  necessary 
to  give  her  much  fast  work.  Let  her  follow  a  carriage 
through  the  country,  or  if  you  live  on  a  farm,  let  her  fol- 
low the  farm  team  around  every  day.  Feed  well  at  night,  so 
that  she  will  have  all  the  night  in  which  to  digest  her  food. 

If  your  work  is  slow,  she  will  take  it  every  day,  and 
gradually  develop  muscle  and  vigorous  health.  The  eye 
will  become  clear  and  large,  the  muscle  hard  and  firm,  the 
constitution  vigorous,  the  step  elastic,  and  the  courage 
great.  If  you  can  now  give  her  a  race  or  two,  to  fully  open 
her  bronchial  tubes,  and  thus  develop  full  chest-power,  it 
will  be  well.  If  she  is  now  coming  in  season,  exercise  her 
until  she  is  ready  for  service,  and  then  let  her  have  com- 
plete rest  for  two  or  three  days  before  the  dog  is  allowed  to 
serve  her. 

The  stud  dog,  of  course,  should  have  had  the  same  treat- 
ment, and  hence  be  in  perfect  condition.  If  so,  one  .service 
will  be  better  than  more;  and  if  either  are  out  of  condition, 
you  had  better  not  breed  them.  After  service,  the  dog  can 
take  his  rest,  but  the  brood  bitch  should  be  left  alone  for  a 
12 


178  THE  AMERICAN   BOOK    OF   THE  DOG. 

week,  and  then  put  back  at  the  same  work  and  worked 
slowly,  but  daily,  until  the  seventh  week;  then  stop  her 
work  and  let  her  rest,  feeding  well. 

This  brings  us  up  to  her  whelping-time.  If  on  a  farm, 
let  her  hunt  her  own  place  to  whelp  in.  She  will  generally 
find  a  good  location,  and  bring  forth  a  large  litter  of  strong, 
healthful  puppies.  Allow  no  stranger  to  disturb  her  dur- 
ing the  first  week.  Some  brood  bitches  are  exceedingly 
nervous,  and  if  disturbed  will  become  restless,  get  up 
and  turn  over  frequently,  trying  to  cover  up  their  whelps. 
Thus  they  are  liable  to  lie  on  them  and  kill  them. 

If  you  have  such  a  bitch,  it  is  best  to  prepare  a  kennel 
for  her  to  whelp  in.  This  should  be  made  roomy,  and  along 
the  sides  a  strip  should  be  nailed,  four  inches  wide,  and 
four  inches  from  the  floor.  For  bedding,  tack  carpet  on  the 
floor,  so  she  can  not  cover  up  her  puppies  and  then  lie  on 
them.  This  board  along  the  side  of  the  kennel  will  give  the 
puppies  a  chance  to  crawl  under;  also  behind  the  dam, 
while  she  can  not  get  on  them. 

If  the  weather  be  warm,  it  will  be  well  to  have  nothing 
but  the  board  floor  for  them  to  lie  on.  If  it  be  cold,  it 
will  be  well  to  remove  the  carpet  in  four  or  five  days  and 
give  a  bed  of  clean  straw,  which  should  be  changed  twice  a 
week.  The  writer  prefers  to  have  a  bitch  whelp  on  nice 
clean,  dry  earth;  it  acts  as  a  disinfectant,  and  puppies 
always  have  done  better  and  have  been  less  liable  to  dis- 
ease when  whelped  and  raised  on  an  earthen  bed. 

I  have,  during  my  experience  of  over  thirty  years  in 
breeding  and  rearing  Deerhounds,  made  it  a  rule  never  to 
feed  the  dam  until  she  comes  out  of  her  kennel  after  food, 
and  then  to  give  her  some  nice  soup  and  scraps  of  cooked 
meat,  beef  or  mutton  being  preferable.  She  is  now  re- 
quired to  supply  milk  freely,  and  her  diet  must  be  strong, 
and  of  good  quality  and  quantity.  Give  her  different  kinds 
of  food — oatmeal,  cooked  meats,  bread,  vegetables  of  dif- 
ferent kinds,  Spratt's  codliver-oil  biscuit,  raw  meat,  and 
plenty  of  bones  to  griaw  at. 

Many  writers  and  breeders  say  never  to  let  a  dam  raise 


THE   SCOTCH   DEERHOUND.  179 

more  than  six  or  seven  whelps.  My  experience  is  that  if 
you  help  a  good  mother  she  will  raise  eight  or  ten  just  as 
well  as  five  or  six,  and  much  better  than  if  she  has  no  help 
with  the  smaller  number.  Puppies  at  three  weeks  old  will 
begin  to  eat  soup,  and  should  have  it  four  or  five  times 
daily.  At  four  weeks  old  they  will  eat  codliver-oil  cake, 
softened  in  strong  beef  or  mutton  soup,  and  should  have  it 
three  times  daily — all  they  will  eat.  Always  keep  your 
feeding-pans  sweet  and  clean.  When  you  feed  the  puppies, 
remain  with  them  until  they  are  done  eating;  then  take 
away  what  they  leave,  give  it  to  the  dam,  and  wash  your 
feeding-pan,  so  it  will  be  clean  when  next  wanted.  Under 
such  treatment  you  will  notice  that  the  dam  has  very  little 
trouble  with  her  litter,  and  she  will  not  begin  to  grow  fat. 
At  six  or  seven  weeks  of  age  her  puppies  will  be  weaned. 
She  will  have  raised  ten  just  as  easily  as  she  would  have 
raised  five,  and  if  they  are  bred  for  sale  it  makes  a  vast  dif- 
ference in  the  income. 

Many  people  say  that  Deerhound  puppies  are  exceed- 
ingly hard  to  raise.  I  have  never  found  it  so.  Give  them 
plenty  of  exercise  and  good  food  and  they  will  raise  them- 
selves, anywhere  and  in  any  climate. 

It  is  well  to  give  puppies,  once  a  month,  a  dose  of  san- 
tonine,  to  clean  out  any  worms  they  may  have. 

I  have  never  lost  a  puppy  with  distemper,  and  have 
always  made  it  a  rule  to  have  them  in  good  condition  at  all 
times;  then  when  distemper  has  taken  hold  of  them,  they 
have  usually  had  but  a  slight  attack,  and  have  gone 
through  it  in  good  shape.  I  have  never  yet  seen  a  Deer- 
hound  that  was  afflicted  with  chorea. 

TRAINING. 

I  do  not  believe  in  early  training,  and  hence  have  never 
worked  or  prepared  a  Deerhound  under  twelve  to  fifteen 
months  old.  My  experience  is  that  the  breed  develops 
slowly,  and  for  this  reason  a  puppy  at  nine  months  old  is 
not  strong  enough  to  follow  a  deer  in  any  of  our  American 
forests.  A  carefully  reared  puppy  can,  at  nine  or  ten 


180  THE  AMERICAN   BOOK   OF  THE   DOG. 

months  old,  be  given  slow  work  behind  the  saddle-horse 
or  carriage.  This  should  continue  for  at  least  two  months; 
and  if  three  months  can  be  given  to  this  conditioning  work, 
it  will  prove  all  the  better.  While  a  puppy  is  growing 
rapidly  and  filling  out,  he  takes  on  muscle  slowly,  and  for 
this  reason  his  exercise  should  be  continued  for  a  longer 
period  than  is  necessary  for  old  dogs. 

The  Deerhound  is  used  for  hunting  the  deer,  in  the 
Western  country,  in  two  entirely  diiferent  ways,  and  for 
each  the  training  must  be  distinct  and  precise,  according  to 
the  way  he  is  to  hunt  his  game.  One  is  still- hunting,  the 
other  is  coursing  the  deer.  For  still-hunting,  the  Deerhound 
is  the  dog  par  excellence.  In  training  a  puppy  to  still- 
hunt,  take  him  on  a  leash,  and  with  a  snap  so  arranged  that 
he  can  be  loosened  instantly.  It  is  well  to  show  him  the 
game  before  firing,  and  at  the  first  move  of  the  puppy  let 
him  go. 

If  the  deer  be  only  wounded,  he  will  follow  it,  and  if  from 
the  right  kind  of  sire  and  dam,  he  will  catch  and  kill  the 
deer.  If  his  family  connections  have  been  of  the  timid 
kind,  he  will  bay  the  wounded  deer,  and  you  can  follow  and 
kill  it;  but  if  his  ancestors  have  been  used  on  game,  and 
your  puppy  is  strong  and  of  good  age,  he  will  kill  the  first 
deer  he  sees — just  as  a  well-bred  Setter  will  point  the  first 
quail  he  scents.  After  a  few  lessons,  your  puppy  will  stay 
to  heel  until  you  shoot,  without  a  leash;  and  as  he  grows 
older,  he  will  frequently  lead  you  to  the  game  by  his  keen 
scent,  merely  sniffing  the  air  as  he  cautiously  proceeds  by 
your  side  or  just  in  front  of  you. 

Of  course  it  is  necessary  to  teach  him  obedience  and  not 
to  allow  him  to  break  away.  Should  this  occur,  he  will 
soon  be  coursing  the  deer,  and  leave  you  many  miles  be- 
hind; then  his  lessons  must  begin  again  at  the  leash.  If 
carefully  done,  his  teaching  will  be  easy,  and  he  will  soon 
stand  with  the  game  in  full  view  and  not  move  a  muscle; 
but  will  quiver  with  excitement,  every  muscle  and  nerve  on 
extreme  tension— waiting  for  his  master  to  fire,  when  he  is 
away  with  the  speed  of  the  falcon. 


THE   SCOTCH   DEERHOUND.  181 

For  coursing  the  deer,  antelope,  wolf,  and  coyote,  the 
Deerhound  is  much  used  throughout  the  Far  West.  For 
this  purpose  they  are  generally  used  in  packs  of  from  three 
to  ten.  A  good  courser  will  begin  the  preparation  of  his 
dogs  by  the  1st  of  August,  so  that  when  the  weather  gets 
cool  enough  for  them  to  bear  hard  and  fast  running,  say  in 
October,  they  will  be  in  prime  condition — hard  in  muscle, 
in  strong  good  health,  and  eager  for  the  sport. 

It  is  not  necessary  to  train  a  Deerhound  for  coursing. 
All  that  is  needed  here  is  to  show  him  the  game  and  turn 
him  loose.  It  is  always  best  to  take  a  puppy  out  with 
one  or  more  older  dogs,  who  will  take  hold  oi  any  kind  of 
.game,  and  thus  educate  the  puppy  to  seize  and  kill  the  game 
he  is  running.  The  only  proper  way  to  course  deer,  ante- 
lopes, wolves,  or  coyotes  is  to  have  a  cage  on  a  light  vehicle, 
for  the  purpose  of  confining  the  dogs  and  keeping  them  at 
rest  until  you  sight  your  game.  Then  drive  as  close  to  it 
as  possible,  so  that  your  dogs  will  be  fresh  when  the  game 
starts.  If  this  is  not  done,  you  will  soon  find  that  a  jaded, 
tired  dog  can  not  catch  a  fresh  deer,  antelope,  wolf,  or 
coyote. 

I  have  frequently  coursed  deer  and  antelopes  on  the 
Western  plains  by  taking  out  six  good  dogs  in  a  cage,  on 
a  light  wagon,  and  several  friends  following  on  good  run- 
ning-horses. The  cage  was  so  arranged  that  the  driver 
could  pull  a  spring,  open  the  door,  and  let  out  the  three 
loose  dogs  for  a  run,  while  the  three  to  be  retained  in  the 
cage  were  chained  to  the  lioor  or  sides.  By  driving  in  such 
a  direction  that  it  would  appear  to  the  game  as  though  the 
wagon  would  pass  by  about  two  hundred  yards  away,  and 
then  angling  toward  the  game,  I  could  often  approach 
within  one  hundred  and  fifty  yards  before  they  would  start; 
and  the  moment  the  game  would  throw  up  their  heads,  the 
driver  would  pull  the  spring-door,  out  would  come  the 
loose  dogs,  and  away  would  go  game,  dogs,  and  horsemen, 
the  wagon  coming  along  to  pick  up  the  game  and  tired 
dogs.  The  latter  would  then  be  given  water,  put  back  in 
the  cage  and  chained,  and  the  three  fresh  dogs  would  next 


182  THE  AMERICAN    BOOK    OF  THE   DOG. 

be  slipped.     One  day  of  such  work,  where  the  game  is 
plentiful,  will  educate  any  well-bred  young  Deerhound. 

Preparing  for  the  bench  requires  an  entirely  diiferent 
course  of  treatment  after  your  dog  is  in  good  condition. 
Up  to  that  point  the  work  may  be  of  a  similar  nature.  He 
should  be  brushed  and  combed  daily,  and  well  hand- 
rubbed,  so  that  his  muscular  development  will  be  promi 
nent  to  the  touch.  Teach  him  to  romp  and  play  with  you 
while  you  have  a  collar  and  leash  on  him.  This  will  insure 
gay  carriage  in  the  judge's  ring;  and  when  you  have  a  Deer 
hound  with  his  eye  bright,  head  up,  and  tail  properly  car- 
ried, if  otherwise  equal,  he  will  always  win  over  a  sulky, 
drooping,  cheerless  dog. 

I  have  always  had  better  success,  in  the  ring  and  in  the 
field,  with  dogs  of  my  own  rearing,  than  with  those  reared 
by  others.  They  are  always  more  tractable,  more  ready  to 
obey  my  wishes,  and  much  more  cheerful  than  those  pur- 
chased after  they  are  grown.  The  latter  always  act  for 
me  as  though  they  were  looking  for  a  lost  friend.  My 
advice  is  to  rear  your  own  dogs,  so  that  they  may  know  no 
other  master  than  yourself. 

The  memory  of  the  Deerhound  seems  to  surpass  that  of 
any  other  breed  except  the  Greyhound.  I  have  sold  old 
dogs  and  have  not  seen  them  for  two  years,  and  without 
seeing  me  they  would  at  once  recognize  my  whistle  when 
t*hey  heard  it,  and  would  come  bounding  to  me  in  a  perfect 
ecstasy  of  delight.  How  much  longer  they  would  have 
remembered  me  I  can  not  say,  but  doubtless  for  many 
years. 

COURSING   THE  DEERHOUND. 

Thirty-four  years  ago,  in  the  Blue  Mountain  Range  of 
Pennsylvania,  I  began  this  sport.  In  the  spring  of  1856,  a 
Scotchman,  a  watch-maker  by  trade,  located  in  the  little 
village  of  Lehigh  Gap.  He  brought  with  him  two  Deer- 
hounds,  a  dog  and  a  bitch.  After  a  short  residence  at  the 
Gap  he  had  to  go  back  to  Scotland,  and  left  his  horse  and 


THE   SCOTCH   DEERHOUND.  183 

two  dogs  with  me  until  he  should  return  the  next  spring. 
He  never  returned,  and  I  became  the  owner  of  a  line  horse 
and  two  excellent  Deerhounds.  I  hunted  those  dogs  after- 
foxes,  lynx,  wildcats,  and  deer  until  worn  out  by  old  age 
and  hard  work.  They  would  run  with  a  pack  of  Foxhounds 
that  were  kept  in  the  vicinity  as  though  trained  with  them 
from  birth.  They  would  trail  with  them,  and  whenever  the 
fox  appeared  in  a  field,  they  would  at  once  leave  the  pack, 
run  by  sight,  and  catch  the  fox.  There  was  no  sport  that 
they  enjoyed  more. 

The  ease  with  which  a  Deerhound  may  be  educated  to 
do  a  certain  part  of  any  sport  is  remarkable.  In  a  portion 
of  the  Pocoivo  Mountains,  north  of  the  Blue  Range,  deer 
were  at  that  time  plentiful.  Much  of  the  country  is  very 
rough,  and  it  was  impossible  for  the  Deerhounds  to  catch  a 
deer  that  was  not  wounded;  so  we  used  to  take  a  pair  of 
slow  trail-hounds  to  drive  the  deer  into  and  across  the 
valleys,  and  would  then  take  the  Deerhounds  into  the  val- 
leys to  sight  the  deer  as  they  came  out.  The  second  time 
we  went  there  with  our  dogs  was  in  November,  1856.  We 
arrived  about  daylight,  and  our  trail-dogs  struck  a  track 
and  gave  tongue  before  we  had  our  team  unhitched  from 
the  wagon. 

While  we  were  putting  out  the  team,  the  Deerhounds 
got  away  from  us,  and  we  supposed  they  had  followed  the 
yelping  trail-hounds.  We  ran  to  the  valley  below,  some 
half-mile  away,  as  fast  as  we  could,  knowing  that  the  game 
would  cross  there.  When  we  got  within  sight  of  the  runway, 
to  our  great  astonishment  we  found  Bevis  and  Leda  at  their 
posts,  eager  for  a  sight  of  the  game.  When  I  say  that  on 
our  previous  hunt,  one  month  earlier,  we  had  always  kept 
collar  and  leash  on  these  dogs,  and  that  they  caught  on 
that  hunt  but  two  deer  at  this  point,  the  remarkable 
sagacity  ^of  the  Deerhound  may  be  realized.  Had  the  Fox- 
hounds started  on  a  trail  in  the  Blue  Mountains,  the  Deer- 
hounds  would  have  gone  with  them  to  catch  the  fox;  but 
not  so  here.  They  had  been  here  once  on  entirely  different 
business,  and  so  well  did  they  remember  it  that  they  imme- 


184  THE  AMERICAN   BOOK   OF  THE   DOG. 

diately  sped  to  their  posts  of  duty.  And  well  did  they 
perform  their  work.  The  deer  came  out  close  to  them, 
and  they  caught  and  killed  it  before  it  ran  two  hundred 
yards. 

This  dog  Bevis  was  the  only  Deerhound  I  ever  saw 
that  was  trained  to  do  tricks  of  various  kinds.  He  would 
fetch,  carry,  go  to  the  post-office  or  butcher- shop,  carry 
notes  to  neighbors  and  take  back  anything  that  was  given 
him  in  return  for  the  letter.  I  remember  distinctly  that  he 
once  did  a  trick  never  before  required  of  him.  I  was 
driving  a  fractious  horse,  in  a  sulky,  and  dropped  my 
whip.  I  was  afraid  to  get  out  to  regain  it,  and  called  to 
Bevis  to  pick  it  up,  which  he  did  immediately;  then  I 
called  to  him  to  bring  it,  which  he  also  did,  and  placed  it 
in  my  hand. 

I  was  then  a  school-boy,  and  took  great  pains  to  teach 
this  dog;  something  I  never  had  the  time  nor  patience,  in 
after  life,  to  repeat  with  any  of  my  other  dogs.  I  now 
remember  many  fine  specimens  that  have  often  displayed 
intelligence  of  a  superior  order,  which  needed  nothing  but 
training  and  teaching  to  make  them  trick-dogs.  I  fully 
believe  that  a  properly  shaped  Deerhound  could  be  edu- 
cated for  high  leaping  so  as  to  surpass  all  dogs  in  that 
work.  A  strong,  short-backed,  powerfully  muscled  Deer- 
hound  leaps  easier  and  higher  than  any  other  dog  that  I 
have  ever  seen  in  the  field.  No  doubt  it  is  only  the  high 
price  that  keeps  them  from  getting  into  the  hands  of 
training  showmen,  who  would  otherwise  bring  them  for- 
ward in  this  amusing  novelty. 

To  illustrate  their  jumping  power,  I  will  relate  an 
amusing  incident  which  happened  several  years  ago  in 
a  Western  village.  My  dog*  Imported  Champion  Mac 
delighted  in  killing  all  the  cats  he  could  find.  While  on 
a  wolf -hunt  we  were  just  starting  out  in  the  early  morn- 
ing, and  the  dogs  feeling  extra  fresh,  Mac  came  up  a  cross^ 
street  after  a  cat;  the  cat  went  under  our  horses,  and  Mac, 
in  a  tremendous  leap,  went  over  both  horses.  This  dog 
never  had  any  special  training  in  leaping,  but  when  after 


THE   SCOTCH   DEERHOUND.  185 

game  he  was  never  known  to  stop  at  any  obstruction  that 
could  be  scaled. 

The  courage  and  game  qualities  of  the  high-bred  Deer- 
hound  can  not  be  better  illustrated  than  by  describing  a 
wolf -hunt  which  took  place  in  Montana.  Some  years  since, 
I  sold  a  trained  pack  of  six  Deerhounds  to  the  Sun  River 
Hound  Club  of  Montana.  This  club  was  composed  of 
wealthy  cattlemen,  who  were  losing  thousands  of  dollars' 
worth  of  cattle  annually  through  the  ravages  of  the  large 
gray  timber  wolf.  They  hired  Mr.  I.  N.  Porter,  an  expe- 
rienced wolf -hunter,  to  handle  this  pack  of  Deerhounds  on 
their  cattle-range  for  one  year.  I  had  guaranteed  the  dogs 
to  kill  any  wolf  in  the  territory.  Mr.  Porter  took  the 
dogs  with  him  to  deliver  them  to  the  club.  He  and  the 
writer  had  killed  many  prairie  wolves  in  Colorado  with 
these  dogs,  but  had  never  tackled  the  large  gray  timber 
wolves  of  the  Rocky  Mountains.  It  seems  that  one 
of  the  members  of  this  club  had  a  large  flock  of  sheep, 
and  one  certain  wolf  had  been  preying  on  them  for  four 
years  past.  It  was  to  this  ranch  that  Mr.  Porter  and  the 
dogs  were  first  taken,  and  this  tremendous  wolf  was  to  be  the 
first  one  that  the  pack  was  to  tackle.  If  they  could  catch 
and  kill  him,  my  guarantee  was  to  be  considered  fulfilled, 
I  had  carefully  instructed  Mr.  Porter  how  to  work  the 
dogs,  and  above  all  to  have  them  in  prime  condition  when 
they  saw  the  first  wolf.  This  ranch  was  located  some 
seventy-five  miles  from  railroad  communication,  and  the 
dogs  had  to  travel  this  distance  on  foot;  so  that  when  they 
arrived  at  their  future  home  their  feet  were  worn  to  the 
quick,  and  they  had  to  be  rested.  The  second  night  after 
their  arrival  this  wolf,  with  two  smaller  ones,  came  and 
killed  four  sheep,  and  naturally  Mr.  Porter's  curiosity  was 
aroused  to  see  whatkind  of  an  imimal  these  dogs  were  to 
kill;  so  after  daylight  he  mounted  his  horse  and  followed  the 
wolves,  merely  to  get  sight  of  them  and  learn  their  habits. 
The  following  is  quoted  from  a  letter  which  was  written 
on  his  return  to  the  house  after  seeing  this  large  wolf : 


186  THE   AMERICAN    BOOK   OF   THE   DOG. 

"Dear  Doctor:  The  dogs  and  I  arrived  safe,  only  very 
sore  from  long  travel.  These  men  are  very  anxious  to  see 
what  kind  of  work  these  high-priced  dogs  will  do.  Last 
night,  that  big  wolf  they  wrote  you  about  killed  four  sheep 
near  the  house,  and  I  followed  him  five  or  six  miles  merely 
•to  see  what  he  looked  like.  I  saw  him.  and  I  want  to  tell 
you  now  that  I  think  my  job  and  your  dog-money  will  be 
gone  whenever  I  allow  the  dogs  to  go  near  that  wolf.  But 
I  can't  hold  these  men  much  longer,  so  I  promised  to  go 
after  him  day  after  to-morrow." 

Two  days  later  I  received  the  following  letter: 
"Dear  Doctor:  Last  night,  or  rather  just  before  day- 
light, we  heard  the  wolf  in  the  sheep-corral,  and  went  out 
to  scare  him  away.  He  had  already  killed  one  sheep  and 
eaten  of  it  freely.  At  daylight,  myself  and  three  club 
members  took  four  of  ttie  dogs  (Oscar  and  Meta  being  still 
too  sore  to  work)  and  started  after  the  big  fellow.  We  fol- 
lowed him  for  at  least  ten  miles  before  we  could  show  him 
to  the  dogs.  They  went  to  him  very  quickly,  he  depending 
more  on  his  fighting  than  running  qualities.  Colonel  and 
Dan  reached  him  first,  and  struck  him  with  such  force  that 
he  went  down  never  to  get  up  again.  They  killed  him  in  a 
short  time,  and  neither  of  the  dogs  got  a  scratch.  The  Col- 
onel took  his  old  hold  at  the  throat,  and  never  let  go  until 
I  choked  him  off.  Colonel,  you  know,  is  just  thirty  inches 
high  at  the  shoulder.  We  stood  this  wolf  up  beside  Col- 
onel, and  he  was  one  inch  taller  than  the  dog. 

"We  brought  the  wolf  home,  to  see  what  he  would  weigh, 
and  he  tipped  the  beam  at  one  hundred  and  seven  pounds. 
To  say  that  the  club  members  were  delighted  with  the  dogs 
is  putting  it  too  mild.  They  were  simply  crazed.  Dan  was 
still  sore  in  his  feet,  and  they  carried  him  home  on  horse- 
back. I  will  now  rest  the  dogs  up,  and  get  them  in  perfect 
form  before  I  work  them  again.  This  country  is  alive  with 
wolves  and  other  game." 

During  the  season  of  1886,  Mr.  Porter  killed  with  these 
dogs  one  hundred  and  forty-eight  gray  wolves  and  over 


THE   SCOTCH   DEERHOUND.  187 

three  hundred  coyotes.  Among  many  letters  from  him 
extolling  the  wonderful  courage  of  these  grand  dogs,  the 
following  shows  what  six  dogs  well  trained  to  their  work 
can  do: 

"Dear  Doctor:  To-day  I  suddenly  came  upon  a  pack 
of  iifteen  full-grown  wolves.  I  had  all  six  dogs  with  me, 
and  they  were  in  good  form.  I  was  satisfied  that  unless  we 
did  good  work,  and  that  quickly,  the  wolves  would  kill  the 
dogs;  so  I  jumped  among  them,  and  as  fast  as  the  dogs 
got  one  down  I  stuck  my  knife  into  his  heart.  In  this  way 
we  killed  twelve  out  of  the  fifteen;  but  I  am  sorry  to  say 
that  poor  old,  faithful,  courageous  Dick  was  killed." 

If  there  is  a  breed  of  dogs  on  earth  that  combines  so 
many  sterling  qualities  as  the  Scotch  Deerhound,  I  am  not 
acquainted  with  that  breed. 


THE    FOXHOUND. 


BY  DR.  M.  G.  ELLZEY. 

>HE  article  here  proposed  to  be  written  on  the  Fox- 
hound will  have  special  reference  to  the  American 
Hound,  with  which  the  writer  has  had  a  life-long 
familiarity.  Never  having  been  in  England,  he  has  no 
personal  familiarity  with  English  packs,  nor  with  English 
methods  of  training  and  hunting.  He  has  seen  many 
Hounds  imported  from  English  packs  run  in  this  country, 
and  has  had  the  pleasure  of  hunting  with  gentlemen  who 
have  owned  and  hunted  packs  in  England.  His  judgment 
of  English  Hounds  of  modern  packs  is  based  on  specimens 
he  has  seen  run  here.  As  to  the  ancient  Hounds  of  Eng- 
land, he  knows  the  current  statements  of  authors,  which 
need  scarcely  be  copiously  extracted  in  this  place. 

It  may  as  well  now  be  stated  that  the  writer  is  not  an 
Anglo-maniac  on  the  one  hand,  nor  inspired  by  extrava- 
gant or  irrational  prejudice  against  that  which  is  English 
on  the  other.  There  is  much  in  the  history  of  the  English 
people  so  great  and  grand  as  to  be  beyond  the  reach  of 
envy.  There  is  much  also  which  no  one  should  be  so  great 
a  fool  as  to  besmatter  with  silly  panegyric.  There  are  many 
things  admirable  in  England  which  are  totally  absurd  and 
ridiculous  in  America.  Out  of  England  undoubtedly  origi- 
nally came  all  that  is  greatest  and  best  in  America,  both 
men  and  things  less  than  men. 

The  old  English  Hound  seems  to  have  been  a  large- 
boned,  coarse,  heavy  animal;  and  the  packs  of  those  days 
must  have  caught  very  few  foxes  on  fair  terms.  The 
earlier  importations  into  America,  far  back  in  colonial 
days,  were  probably  similar  to  the  early  English  Hounds; 
but  in  this  country  their  character  was  soon  changed,  as  it 

(189) 


190  THE   AMERICAN   BOOK   OF  THE   DOG. 

was  also  in  England.  In  that  country,  changes  were 
attempted,  in  the  way  of  better  adaptation  to  the  modern 
chase,  by  crossing  with  the  Greyhound,  and,  to  a  small 
extent,  with  the  Pointer.  In  this  country,  the  change 
adaptive  to  the  environment  came  about  rather  by  uncon- 
scious selection,  and  breeding  from  the  best  red  fox  Hounds 
only. 

It  soon  came  to  be  realized  that  in  running  down  and 


JOE    FORESTER. 
Owned  by  Brunswick  Fur  Club. 


killing  an  American  red  fox  main  strength  and  awkward- 
ness had  no  place — it  was  a  matter  of  speed  and  bottom. 
The  English  mode  of  selecting  the  Hound  was  based  upon 
his  suitability  to  a  particular  pack  in  size,  color,  tongue, 
and  speed.  A  Hound  too  fast  for  them  was  much  out  of 
place  in  the  pack,  and  was  a  spoiler  of  their  somewhat  cut- 
and-dried  notions  of  sport.  The  American  method  was 
based  on  the  ability  of  the  Hound,  as  an  individual,  to  kill 
a  red  fox  on  such  ground  as  must  be  run  over  in  this  coun- 


THE    FOXHOUND.  191 

try;  and  the  American  pack  was  made  up  from  such  as 
could  keep  company  with  the  leader. 

To  breed  a  red  fox  pack,  it  was  necessary  to  mate  the 
best  dog  with  the  best  bitch;  and  this  method  led  to  the 
creation  of  a  type  peculiar  to  America — not  modeled  on  size, 
and  tongue,  and  color,  and  questions  of  packing  well,  but 
a  type  modeled  on  speed,  courage,  and  endurance.  And 
the  architect  of  the  model  was  the  American  red  fox;  for, 
in  the  language  of  a  famous  turfman,  he  it  was  who  cut 
out  the  running  and  set  the  pace,  and  to  beat  him,  the  race 
had  to  be  run  from  "  eend  to  eend."  For  a  pack  bred  and 
put  together  on  any  other  plan,  the  red  fox  chase  resulted 
always  in  one  and  the  same  finale,  viz. :  Reynard  first,  the 
rest  nowhere. 

Precisely  the  principle  of  selection,  breeding,  and  train- 
ing which  produced  our  great  four-milers  on  the  turf,  pro- 
duced our  red  fox  Hounds.  The  formula  is  simple,  viz. : 
Breed  to  the  winners.  Upon  this  principle  the  American 
Foxhound  shaped  itself  to  the  model  most  lit  to  do  the 
work  of  killing  the  red  fox,  becoming  lighter  and  more 
rangy  in  form,  and  shriller  in  tongue  than  its  English 
ancestor.  The  bones,  like  those  of  the  race-horse,  became 
notably  smaller  and  lighter,  and  at  the  same  time  more 
solid  and  stronger.  The  lungs  also  became  more  capacious, 
and  less  encumbered  with  coarse,  inelastic  tissue  and  fat. 
The  muscular  fiber  finer,  and  more  effectively  endowed  with 
contractile  power.  The  heart — the  great  central  motor 
power  of  the  circulation — and  the  contractile  muscular 
coats  of  the  vessels  themselves  participating  in  the  organic 
evolution  along  the  same  lines  of  development. 

Thus,  in  process  of  time,  there  came  to  be  American 
packs  capable  of  dealing  with  American  red  foxes  on  fair 
terms.  The  main  architect  and  master  builder  of  those  packs 
was  the  American  red  fox.  Like  that  ill-fated  eagle  which 
furnished  the  feather  that  winged  the  arrow  which  pierced 
his  own  heart,  the  American  red  fox  trained  those  packs 
which  were,  eventually,  able  to  kill  American  red  foxes. 
Without  the  fox,  the  packs  could  not  have  been  produced. 


192  THE  AMERICAN   BOOK   OF  THE  DOG. 

In  England,  doubtless  their  hard  and  fast  notions  of  the 
right  make-up  of  a  pack,  and  the  stiff  and  rigid  technical- 
ities of  the  meet  and  hunt,  have  prevented  in  some 
degree  that  complete  adaptation  of  means  to  ends  which 
has  been  perfected  with  us,  who  have  never  been  in  love 
with  pomp  and  vanities  and  stilted  torn-fooleries.  Never- 
theless, in  England,  it  began  after  a  time  to  be  seen 
that  faster  Hounds  must  be  had  if  any  foxes  were  to  be 
caught,  and  hence  crosses  were  made  to  the  Greyhound, 
he  having  already  been  crossed  to  the  Bulldog,  and  the 
result  has  been  more  rangy,  speedier,  smaller,  and  fiercer 
Hounds. 

To  keep  within  sound  of  such  packs,  moreover,  the 
hunting-horse  of  our  great-grandfathers  had  to  be  replaced 
by  one  of  more  blood,  more  speed,  more  courage,  more 
endurance  at  the  .highest  rate  of  speed — all  of  which 
points  were  covered  at  a  stroke  by  more  blood.  Following 
this  development,  a  new  style  of  horsemanship  was  de- 
manded; and  the  English  country  gentleman  is  no  dude 
on  horseback.  The  style  of  the  pert  Newmarket  jockey, 
imported,  aped,  and  loved  by  American  fashionable  dudism 
rampant,  is  by  no  means  the  style  of  the  English  gentle- 
man on  horseback. 

The  man  capable  of  making  a  creditable  exhibition  on 
an  English  hunting-field  to  day  must  be  a  great  horseman, 
riding  a  great  horse.  Now  the  central  force  which  gave 
to  this  evolution  its  initial  impulse,  and  has  carried  it  for- 
ward to  its  acme  of  development,  is  the  speed  and  bottom 
of  the  English  fox. 

It  is  not  to  be  disputed  that  the  thing  hunted  determines 
all  the  details  of  the  hunt.  If  a  man  attack  a  grizzly, 
away  back  in  some  lonely  canon,  he  will  soon  perceive  that 
a  Winchester  Express  is  one  of  the  modern  details  of  the 
combat,  nicely  adjusted  to  the  fighting- weight  of  Ursus 
Tiorribilis.  In  this  view  of  the  case,  the  red  fox  can  claim 
a  dignity  which  has  not  been  accorded  to  him  hitherto — 
the  dignity  of  statesmanship  as  the  producer  of  important 
national  and  international  results.  British  horsemanship 


THE   FOXHOUND.  193 

has  played  an  important  part  on  more  than  one  great  mod- 
ern battle-field. 

Mainly  contributory  to  the  highest  type  of  British 
horsemanship  has  been  the  school  of  the  hunting-field. 
The  best  cavalry-horses  have  been  bred  for  and  fallen  some- 
what short  of  the  requirements  of  the  hunting-field. 

In  America  we  have  never  had  horses  especially  bred 
for  hunting,  and  mainly  for  the  reason  that  in  those  parts 
of  the  country  where  hunting  was  practicable  the  saddle- 
horses  in  common  use  by  the  country  gentleman  were  suf- 
ficiently well-bred  for  hunters,  and  were  in  fact  commonly 
used  in  the  chase.  There  was,  indeed,  that  degree  of 
attachment  for  his  "riding-horse"  on  the  part  of  our 
country  gentleman  which  disqualified  every  other  horse,  in 
his  eye.  No  person  other  than  himself  was  ever  permitted 
to  mount  his  favorite,  and  he  would  not  himself  mount 
any  other  horse  except  under  the  stress  of  necessity.  Thus 
it  came  to  be  that  a  more  splendid  horsemanship  never 
characterized  any  people  than  that  of  the  Southern  country 
gentry  of  the  United  States. 

The  place  of  the  Foxhound  in  that  civilization  was  not 
a  low  nor  unimportant  one.  In  the  school  which  devel- 
oped the  manly  prowess  and  the  "  saving  common-sense  " 
of  such  men  as  George  Washington  and  his  great  lieu- 
tenant, the  dashing  ' '  Light-horse  Harry, ' '  the  red  fox 
and  red  fox  Hound  were  not  insignificant  educational 
factors. 

The  hero-sage  of  Mount  Yernon  maintained,  to  the  last 
of  his  life,  an  unexcelled  pack;  and  he  loved  no  diversion 
as  he  did  fox-hunting,  in  which  he  never  lost  a  chance  to 
participate  with  his  friends  and  neighbors,  the  Fairfaxes, 
the  Lees,  the  Chichesters,  the  McCartys,  the  Masons,  and 
others.  No  sport  so  well  merits  the  position  of  a  recog- 
nized national  sport,  and  none  can  ever  be  so  greatly  trib- 
utary to  manly  prowess  and  hardihood.  Superior  horse- 
manship is  the  most  elegant  and  useful  accomplishment 
ever  possessed  by  a  lady  or  gentleman.  One  of  the  con- 
siderations favorable  to  fox-hunting  as  the  national  sport 

13 


194  THE   AMERICAN   BOOK   OF  THE   DOG. 

is,  that  it  can  be  kept  out  of  the  hands  of  "professionals" 
and  within  reach  of  people  of  moderate  means. 

If  the  view  be  correct  that  the  English  and  American 
red  foxes,  respectively,  have  developed  the  modes  of  the 
hunt  and  the  characters  of  the  packs  in  the  two  countries, 
we  must  look  for  any  material  differences  between  the 
English  and  American  hunt  to  the  difference  between  the 
foxes  of  the  two  countries.  That  in  speed,  endurance,  and 
stratagem,  in  front  of  a  dangerous  pack,  the  American  fox 
is  greatest,  there  is  little  doubt.  It  follows  that  in  speed, 
bottom,  a/id  trailing  the  American  Hound  is  superior  to 
the  English.  Of  this  I  have,  personally,  not  the  smallest 
doubt.  I  have  seen  many  imported  Hounds  run  in  this 
country,  and  they  have  been  of  undoubted  excellence,  but 
never  equal,  over  our  country,  to  our  best  American 
strains.  This  is  in  accordance  with  plain  and  simple  com- 
mon-sense. No  doubt  the  English  packs  would  excel  ours 
on  their  own  ground,  on  all  except  speed. 

I  do  not  believe,  and  I  can  not  be  made  to  believe,  until 
it  is  done,  that  the  best  pack  in  England  can  do  anything 
at  all  whatever  with  an  Old  Virginia  red  fox.  It  is  not 
believed  by  many  of  the  fox- hunters  of  the  Northern  States 
that  any  pack  of  Hounds  can  catch  their  foxes.  I  am 
too  strongly  impressed  by  what  I  know  of  the  difference  in 
the  habits  of  the  same  species  of  wild  animals  in  different 
localities,  to  be  willing  to  adopt  an  opinion  adverse  to  the 
prevailing  opinions  of  competent  observers  in  localities  with 
which  I  am  not  familiar.  Nevertheless,  I  suggest  to  our 
Northern  friends  that  they  are  not  familiar  with  the  speed 
of  the  packs  in  our  best  hunting  country,  and  that  their 
mode  of  hunting  by  standing,  after  the  manner  of  deer- 
driving,  and  shooting  the  fox  in  front  of  the  dog,  would 
soon  utterly  ruin  our  best  packs. 

I  do  not  take  part  in  the  harsh  criticisms  of  the  North- 
ern method  of  hunting.  I  have  no  doubt  Northern  sports- 
men enjoy  their  sport;  and  enjoyment  is  the  object  of  all 
sport.  I  have  no  doubt  that  it  is  the  only  way  to  kill  their 
foxes,  as  they  protest.  I  do  not  think  I  could  enjoy  it  myself. 


THE  FOXHOUND.  195 

I  take  it  to  be  inferior  to  deer-driving,  and  I  think  that  infe- 
rior to  any  field  sport  I  ever  participated  in.  De  gustibus 
non— "Every  man  to  his  liking."  Until  the  matter  is 
tested  and  the  contrary  established,  I  shall  believe  that 
such  a  pack  as  the  Wild  Goose  pack  is  reputed  to  be  can 
kill  red  foxes  anywhere,  on  any  ground  fit  to  be  run  over 
by  Hounds. 

The  speed  of  the  Foxhound  appears  to  be  rather  greater 
than  the  speed  of  the  best  race-horse.  There  is,  however, 
very  little  authentic  information  on  this  point.  I  can  state, 
as  a  matter  of  experience  in  riding  to  Hounds,  that  I  have 
never  seen  a  horse  that  could  keep  pace  with  a  good  pack 
of  Hounds  for  a  single  mile  across  country.  I  have  seen 
only  a  few  Hounds  which  seemed  nearly  equal  to  a  red  fox  in 
speed,  if  the  fox  was  at  his  best.  I  have  never  seen  a  pack 
kill  a  red  fox  unless  they  could  keep  him  hard-pressed 
from  start  to  finish;  and  in  general,  when  I  have  seen  kills, 
I  have  thought  the  Hounds  had  the  advantage  in  bottom 
rather  than  in  speed.  The  fox  is  a  gluttonous  feeder,  and 
if  full-fed  he  is  taken  at  great  disadvantage.  I  doubt  if 
any  pack  can  kill  a  good  specimen  of  the  red  fox  if  in  the 
pink  of  condition,  running  on  favorable  ground.  As  a  gen- 
eral principle,  I  think  the  fox  has  rather  greater  speed,  the 
Hound  rather  greater  endurance;  and  they  are  so  nearly 
matched  in  both  respects  that  the  issue  of  the  chase  is  in  a 
great  degree  a  question  of  condition. 

Rough,  uneven  ground  is  favorable  to  the  fox,  and  sel- 
dom indeed  is  one  in  good  condition  killed  by  a  pack  when 
the  chase  is  over  rough,  uneven  country  for  a  greater  part 
of  the  distance.  If  the  premises  here  stated  are  accurate, 
the  conclusion  follows  that  only  a  skilled  huntsman,  who 
knows  how  to  make  the  conditions  favorable  to  the  pack, 
and  to  put  the  Hounds  in  the  very  best  condition  for  the 
race,  has  any  chance  to  make  kills,  unless  the  fox  has  the 
misfortune  to  be  gorged  with  carrion  when  the  start  is 
made,  or  is  in  some  other  way  sick  or  out  of  condition.  It 
appears  to  me,  therefore,  that  some  Northern  fox-hunters 
have  fallen  into  error  as  to  the  superiority  of  Northern 


196  THE   AMERICAN   BOOK   OF   THE   DOG. 

to  Southern  foxes.  They  have  purchased  dogs  of  well- 
known  Southern  strains,  and  upon  their  failure  to  kill  the 
foxes  of  the  North  as  handled  by  those  who  hunt  on  foot, 
and  very  probably  shoot  the  fox  before  the  Hounds, 
conclude  that  these  Hounds  are  not  able  to  catch  their 
foxes.  The  conclusion  does  not  necessarily  follow.  If  a 
fox  from  Maine  were  taken  to  Virginia,  and  put  down  be- 
fore a  red  fox  pack  handled  by  skilled  huntsmen,  would 
that  be  considered  fair  to  the  fox  ?  No  more  is  it  fair  to 
the  Southern  Hound  to  take  him  to  Maine'  to  be  run  by 
huntsmen  who  never  saw  a  kill,  who  deny  that  any  Hound 
can  kill  their  foxes,  and  that  therefore  the  legitimate  and 
only  way  to  kill  Maine  foxes  is  by  standing  on  the  run- 
ways and  shooting  them  before  slow  Hounds. 

A  great  deal  of  acrimonious  dispute  has  arisen  over  this 
question,  between  the  fox-hunters  of  the  two  sections, 
which  it  has  seemed  to  me  that  a  little  good-temper  and  a 
little  good-sense  might  have  prevented.  That  some  packs 
can  and  do  make  frequent  kills  in  Virginia  and  Maryland 
of  what  seem  perfect  specimens  of  the  red  fox,  in  seemingly 
good  condition,  is  a  matter  that  is  known  to  be  true  by  all 
fox-hunters  of  those  States.  I  am  of  opinion  that  south  of 
Virginia  more  kills  are  made  because  the  ground  is  likely 
to  be  more  favorable  to  the  pack  and  less  favorable  to  the 
fox,  and  for  no  other  reason. 

It  seems  likely  that  in  Maine  the  ground  may  be  so 
favorable  to  the  fox  and  unfavorable  to  the  Hound,  that 
even  if  the  chase  were  made  to  kill  with  Hounds  instead  of 
shooting,  kills  would  be  rare. 

In  the  matter  of  breeding  for  a  pack  of  red  fox  Hounds, 
the  principles  which  govern  the  science  of  successfully 
breeding  for  any  other  purpose  apply.  The  inheritance 
must  be  through  ancestors  of  known  ability  to  kill  red 
foxes,  and  they  must  have  gone  through  the  training  and 
practice  which  enable  them  to  show  by  actual  kills  that 
they  can  kill. 

No  turfman  would  expect  to  breed  a  winner  from  a 


THE   FOXHOUND.  197 

stallion  and  mare  neither  of  which  had  ever  been  trained 
or  raced.  No  sportsman  would  expect  to  breed  a  Setter  or 
Pointer  from  untrained  parents  which  would  win  a  place 
at  a  field  trial.  No  cocker  would  expect  to  win  a  main 
with  cocks  bred  from  birds  which  never  fought.  Why, 
then,  should  a  huntsman  expect  to  breed  a  killing  pack  of 
red  fox  Hounds  from  stock  that  had  never  run  or  never  killed 
a  fox?  The  thing  can  not  be  done.  Therefore  it  goes 
without  saying,  that  a  Hound  should  not  be  bred  from 
until  fully  matured,  trained,  and  experienced  in  killing 
foxes. 

Something  else  is  wanted  besides  a  pedigree.  True 
enough,  a  knowledge  of  not  merely  the  names,  but  the 
performances  of  the  ancestors  is  essentially  necessary,  and 
this  is  doubly  and  trebly  true  of  the  immediate  progenitors. 
If  a  bitch  which  has  killed  red  foxes  be  bred  to  a  Hound 
that  has  killed  red  foxes,  the  progeny  will  be  born,  most 
likely,  capable  of  being  developed  into  Hounds  capable  of 
killing  red  foxes.  But  be  it  remembered,  that  though 
orators  and  poets  may  be  born,  not  made,  a  red-fox-killing 
pack  has  to  be  made;  they  are  not  born  able  to  do  it.  They 
must  be  made  able  by  judicious  and  skilled  practice  and 
training  after  being  bred  right. 

Nor  can  they  be  trained  by  a  man  who  never  rode  to  a 
killing  pack.  If  a  man  does  not  know  how  the  thing  is 
done,  how  shall  he  teach  the  Hounds  ?  By  sheer  force  of 
hereditary  instinct,  it  would  be  more  likely  the  Hounds 
would  kill  in  spite  of  the  huntsman,  and  show  him  the 
way  to  do  it. 

In  this  place  we  may  profitably  review  the  question  of 
the  best  form  and  size  of  Hound  to  be  selected  from 
which  to  breed  a  pack  capable  of  dealing  with  a  red  fox. 
The  question,  to  kill  or  not  to  kill  a  red  fox,  is  not,  as 
already  hinted,  a  question  of  main  strength  and  awk- 
wardness, but  of  speed  and  endurance.  Remember  that 
the  fox  leads  the  chase,  and  in  a  great  number  of  cases 
outruns  and  outlasts  Hounds,  horses,  and  men,  and  simply 
runs  away  and  leaves  them.  This  animal  is  but  little  more 


198  THE   AMERICAN   BOOK   OF  THE  DOG. 

than  a  foot  high,  and  weighs  not  above  twelve  pounds  in 
good  running  order.  The  largest  bone  in  his  skeleton  does 
not  exceed  the  diameter  of  a  goose-quill.  The  whole 
osseous  frame  weighs  scarcely  a  pound.  It  is  quality,  not 
" substance,"  which  lands  Reynard  a  winner. 

It  is  the  firm  opinion  of  the  writer  that  the  best  red 
fox  dogs  are  not  above  medium  in  size  and  weight.  The 
dog  should  not  exceed  twenty-three  inches  in  height  nor 
fifty -five  pounds  in  weight;  the  bitch  less  by  about  ten 
per  cent. 

Hounds  of  this  size  will  be  fleeter  and  more  enduring, 
as  a  rule,  than  larger  and  heavier  animals,  and  their  shoul- 
ders and  feet  will  suffer  less  from  the  tremendous  concus- 
sion which  they  must  bear  in  a  protracted  chase  at  such  a 
pitch  of  speed  as  will  be  necessary;  for  to  kill  a  fox  he 
must  be  put  to  his  best  from  start  to  finish. 

The  head  of  the  Hound  is  rather  small  in  proportion  to 
his  weight,  and  the  muzzle  rather  finer  in  the  modern  Hound 
than  in  the  older  type;  the  nose  is  large  and  the  nostril 
thin;  the  eyes  large,  bright,  and  expressive,  placed  rather 
close  together  and  directed  forward;  the  stop  is  not  as 
sharply  defined  as  in  some  breeds.  A  very  important 
point,  and  one  much  overlooked,  is  that  the  jaws  should 
be  well  spread  at  the  angle,  so  as  to  give  ample  room  for 
the  thrapple,  and  to  secure  that  easy  amplitude  of  motion 
between  the  head  and  neck  so  essential  to  carrying  the 
scent  at  the  tremendous  speed  of  the  chase. 

The  ears  are  longish,  but  shorter  and  narrower  than  in 
old-time  packs;  they  are  placed  on  the  skull  low  down,  and 
are  decidedly  pendulous;  the  leather  is  neither  fine  and 
papery  to  the  feel  nor  by  any  means  coarse,  harsh,  and 
inelastic.  The  neck  must  be  long,  and  wholly  free  from 
any  coarse,  loose  flaps  of  thick  skin  or  useless  cellular  tissue 
and  fat. 

The  shoulders  ought  to  be  not  only  sloping,  but  pos- 
sessed of  very  free  motion,  and  yet  powerfully  mus- 
cled and  strong.  The  elbow  ought  to  be  well  developed, 
and  well  away  from  the  body,  but  placed  perfectly  true— 


THE   FOXHOUND.  199 

•  .  . 

neither  out  nor  in.  A  Hound  with  weak  or  badly  formed 
shoulders  is  a  deformed  and  crippled  beast,  and  can  never 
be  expected  to  amount  to  anything. 

The  fore-arm  should  be  not  too  long,  but  powerfully 
muscled,  and  having  sufficient  clean,  fine  bone  to  bear  the 
weight  thrown  upon  it  by  fifty-five  pounds  bounding  at 
terrific  speed.  The  foot  must  be  of  firm  texture,  and  well 
padded;  the  shape  is  a  matter  of  less  moment,  bench-show 
men  to  the  contrary  notwithstanding.  I  have  seen  Hounds 
that  were  great  performers — Hounds  that  I  have  seen  lead 
a  great  pack,  and  pull  down  and  kill  numerous  red  foxes— 
that  would  have  been  pronounced  by  these  authorities 
defective  in  the  feet;  perhaps  ridiculed  as  "  splay-footed. " 
I  have  seen  Hounds  with  feet  the  form  of  which  would 
have  been  pronounced  perfect,  but  which  nevertheless  were 
tender-footed,  and  could  by  no  means  stand  a  desperate 
chase  over  rough  ground.  I  am  not  sure  that  the  despised 
hare-foot  is  not  the  best  form  for  the  Hound;  giving  him  a 
better  hold  and  purchase  upon  the  ground,  and  being  in  no 
way  correlated  with  lack  of  hardness  of  the  foot. 

The  Hound  should  be  deep  in  the  heart-place,  and 
the  breast-bone  keel-shaped;  but  the  breast  must  not  be 
weak  and  contracted.  The  back  ribs  should  spring  off 
well  from  the  backbone,  and  barrel  out  well,  so  as  to  give 
ample  room  for  the  heart,  lungs,  and  great  vascular  trunks; 
for  here  is  the  ultimate  source  of  power,  speed,  and 
endurance. 

The  loin  should  be  high,  well  arched,  broad,  and  power- 
fully muscled:  for  here  is  the  origin  of  a  group  of  muscles 
of  tremendous  power,  which  are,  with  those  of  the  hip  and 
thigh,  the  main  propellers  which  carry  the  body  forward 
at  so  great  a  rate  of  speed.  The  tail  should  be  placed 
nearly  on  a  level  with  the  sway  of  the  back,  though  the 
arching  of  the  loin  and  the  slope  of  the  quarters  somewhat 
deceives  the  eye,  so  as  to  make  it  appear  to  be  set  lower 
than  is  actually  the  case.  The  tail  of  the  Hound  curves 
well  upward;  recent  importations,  I  think,  too  much  so. 
It  is  stout,  of  moderate  length,  well  haired,  and  even  with 


200  THE   AMERICAN    BOOK    OF    THE   DOG. 

something  like  a  brush,  in  many  superior  specimens.  I 
think  it  might  be  bred  finer  with  advantage. 

The  stifle  is  well  bent,  and  the  hock  placed  near  the 
ground;  but  the  leg,  as  compared  with  some  breeds,  rather 
straight — I  think,  in  some  cases,  a  little  too  straight. 

It  is  upon  the  outlines  suggested  by  these  remarks  that 
I  would  advise  selections  for  the  breeding-stud.  In  the 
matter  of  color,  we  are  fancy  free.  The  best  Hounds  I 
ever  knew  were  black-and-tan,  and  that  is  a  beautiful 
color.  The  best  Hound  I  know  of  at  present  is  a  lemon- 
and- white.  The  old  so-called  "blue-mottled"  Hounds 
were  beautiful.  On  a  clear  blue  (not  a  black  and  white 
mixture)  ground-color  were  fancifully  arranged  spots  of 
black,,  yellow,  and  white.  If  the  spot  around  either  eye 
was  blue  or  white,  that  eye  was  blue;  the  other  eye  being 
in  a  dark  spot,  was  dark,  or  in  a  yellow  spot,  yellow.  I 
have  seen  good  Hounds  of  a  solid  yellow,  or  yellow  with 
white  feet  and  a  white  streak  in  the  face.  Color  may  be 
to  suit  taste. 

The  standard  by  which  Foxhounds  are  judged  at  our 
bench  shows  is  as  follows: 

Value.  Value. 

Head 15    Elbows r> 

Neck 5    Legs  and  feet 20 

Shoulders 10    Color  and  coat 5 

Chest  and  back  ribs 10    Stern 5 

Back  and  loin 10    Symmetry 5 

Hind  quarters 10 

Total 100 

The  head  (value  15)  should  be  of  full  size,  but  by  no 
means  heavy.  Brow  pronounced,  but  not  high  or  sharp. 
There  must  be  good  length  and  breadth,  sufficient  to  give  in 
the  dog  Hound  a  girth  in  front  of  the  ears  of  fully  sixteen 
inches.  The  nose  should  be  long  (four  and  one-half  inches) 
and  wide,  with  open  nostrils.  Ears  set  on  low  and  lying 
close  to  the  cheeks. 

The  neck  (value  5)  must  be  long  and  clean,  without  the 
slightest  throatiness.  It  should  taper  nicely  from  the 
shoulders  to  the  head,  and  the  upper  outline  should  be 
slightly  convex. 


THE   FOXHOUND.  201 

The  shoulders  (value  10)  should  be  long  and  well  clothed 
with  muscle,  without  being  heavy,  especially  at  the  points. 
They  must  be  well  sloped,  and  the  true  arm  between  the 
front  and  the  elbow  must  be  long  and  muscular,  but  free 
from  fat  or  lumber. 

Chest  and  ~back  ribs  (value  10). — The  chest  should  girth 
over  thirty  inches  in  a  twenty-four-inch  Hound,  and  the 
back  ribs  must  be  very  deep. 

The  back  and  loin  (value  10)  must  both  be  very  muscu- 
lar, running  into  each  other  without  any  contraction  or 
"nipping"  between  them.  The  couples  must  be  wide  even 
to  raggedness,  and  there  should  be  the  very  slightest  arch 
in  the  loin,  so  as  to  be  scarcely  perceptible. 

The  hind  quarters  (value  10)  or  propellers  are  required  to 
be  very  strong,  and  as  endurance  is  of  even  more  conse- 
quence than  speed,  straight  stines  are  preferred  to  those 
much  bent,  as  in  the  Greyhound. 

Elbows  (value  5)  set  quite  straight,  and  neither  turned 
in  nor  out,  are  a  sine  qua  non.  They  must  be  well  let  down 
by  means  of  the  long  true  arm  above  mentioned. 

Legs  and  feet  (value  20). — Every  master  of  Foxhounds 
insists  on  legs  as  straight  as  a  post,  and  as  strong — size  of 
bone  at  the  ankle  being  specially  regarded  as  all-important. 
The  desire  for  straightness  is,  I  think,  carried  to  excess,  as 
the  very  straight  leg  soon  knuckles  over;  and  this  defect 
may  almost  always  be  seen  more  or  less  in  old  stallion 
Hounds.  The  bone  can  not,  in  my  opinion,  be  too  large,  but 
I  prefer  a  slight  ankle  at  the  knee  to  a  perfectly  straight 
line.  The  feet  in  all  cases  should  be  round  and  cat-like, 
with  well-developed  knuckles  and  strong  horn,  which  last 
is  of  the  utmost  importance. 

The  color  and  coat  (value  5)  are  not  regarded  as  very 
important,  so  long  as  the  former  is  a  l '  Hound  color "  and 
the  latter  is  short,  dense,  hard,  and  glossy.  Hound  colors 
are  black,  tan  and  white,  black  and  white,  and  the  various 
"pies"  compounded  of  white  and  the  color  of  the  hare  and 
badger,  or  yellow,  or  tan. 

The  stern  (value  5)  is  gently  arched,  carried  gaily  over 


202  THE  AMERICAN   BOOK    OF  THE  DOG. 

the  back,  and  slightly  fringed  with  hair  below.    The  end 
should  taper  to  a  point. 

The  symmetry  (value  5)  of  the  Foxhound  is  considerable, 
and  what  is  called  "quality"  is  highly  regarded  by  all 
good  judges. 

The  music  of  the  pack  is  one  of  the  greatest  charms  of 
the  chase.  Even  the  fox  himself  undoubtedly  enjoys  this 
glorious  melody  when  running  in  front  of  a  pack  which  is 
not  dangerous,  and  which,  with  marvelous  intuition,  he 
almost  immediately  realizes.  It  always  appeared  to  me 
that  my  father,  the  keenest  and  most  ardent  fox-hunter 
of  his  time  in  Virginia,  enjoyed  the  music  more  than  any- 
thing else  about  it.  He  would  put  a  good  Hound  out  of  his 
kennel  and  give  it  away,  because,  as  he  said,  it  did  not 
chime  with  his  pack.  He  had  a  splendid  ear,  a  magnificent 
voice,  and  a  natural  talent  for  music.  A  discord  was  an 
agony  to  him,  and  his  pack  was,  I  believe,  the  most  melo- 
dious in  tongue  ever  heard  in  Virginia,  The  qualities  of 
the  voice  in  the  Hound  are  strongly  hereditary,  and  may 
easily  be  bred  for  with  success. 

It  is  of  the  greatest  importance  that  the  dog  should  not 
be  bred  from  until  fully  matured.  No  animal  is  so  easily  in- 
jured by  excessive  or  premature  taxation  of  the  procreative 
powers.  A  dog  of  great  value  should  be  strictly  limited  to 
the  best  and  most  promising  females,  for  nothing  is  more 
certain  than  that  the  character  of  his  progeny  will  begin  to 
be  disappointing  as  soon  as  he  begins  to  be  overtaxed. 

The  Foxhound  bitch  is  a  very  prolific  animal.  On  sev- 
eral occasions  I  have  known  them  litter  as  many  as  twenty 
whelps.  Thirteen  whelps  to  a  litter  are  nothing  unusual. 
I  do  not  believe  any  bitch  can  properly  care  for  more  than 
six  whelps.  If  a  foster-mother  can  not  be  had,  all  above 
that  number  should  be  drowned  not  later  than  the  day 
after  they  are  born;  saving,  of  course,  the  most  vigorous  and 
prettily  marked.  In  all  cases,  any  appearing  decidedly 
defective  should  be  immediately  drowned.  As  has  been 
already  suggested,  the  best  dog  should  be  mated  with  the 


THE   FOXHOUND.  203 

best  bitch,  without  much  regard  to  the  question  of  kinship; 
for  Hounds  bear  close  inbreeding  well  if  they  are  rationally 
managed  in  other  respects,  as  they  are  naturally  preemi- 
nently hardy  and  free  from  constitutional  diseases  of  a  her- 
editary nature. 

A  strong  prejudice  against  what  is  called  incestuous 
matings  is  deeply  implanted  in  the  human  mind,  but  it  is 
due  rather  to  social  considerations  than  to  physiological 
data — notwithstanding  that  persons  most  ignorant  of 
physiology  clinch  their  arguments  by  the  pet  phrase 
''physiology  teaches"  so  and  so.  It  is  safe  to  say  physi- 
ology teaches  nothing  of  the  kind;  nor  do  such  writers 
know  anything  whatever  about  what  physiology  teaches. 
The  natural  laws  of  hereditary  transmission  act  upon  the 
offspring  in  one  and  the  same  way  whether  the  parents  be 
near  of  kin  or  strangers  in  blood.  .  The  kinship  or  non- 
kinship  of  parents,  near  or  remote,  does  not  in  any  respect 
or  in  any  degree  modify  the  laws  of  heredity  affecting  their 
progeny. 

It  is  curious  how  hard  people  find  it  to  get  over  precon- 
ceived notions.  My  father  repeatedly  bred  daughter  to 
sire,  and  produced  in  that  way  some  of  the  finest  Hounds  he 
ever  had  in  his  kennel.  I  remember  very  well  when,  on 
one  occasion,  a  friend  of  his,  who  had  repeatedly  bred  from 
full  brother  and  sister,  said  to  him  that  he  could  not  help 
thinking  that  to  breed  from  daughter  and  sire  was  a  little 
too  close.  My  father  said  : 

"  Why,  man',  you  breed  closer  than  that." 

"Oh,  no,"  said  he;  "I  never  bred  closer  than  brother  and 
sister,  and  that  don't  hurt  a  bit." 

"Well,"  said  my  father,  "the  blood  of  brother  and 
sister  is,  as  I  understand  the  matter,  identical,  whereas  the 
daughter  has  only  half  the  blood  of  the  sire  and  half  of  the 
dam;  and  I  think  you  breed  twice  as  close  as  I  do."  This 
little  analysis  seemed  to  strike  the  man  dumb. 

"  It  certainly  does  seem  that  way,"  said  he,  "when  you 
come  to  look  at  it;  but  it  always  seemed  to  me  it  was  a  heap 
closer  to  breed  a  daughter  to  her  own  father." 


204  THE   AMEEICAN   BOOK    OF   THE   DOG. 

"  Than  a  brother  to  his  own  sister,"  said  my  father  with 
a  laugh. 

Breed  the  best  to  the  best  is  the  best  rule  I  know  by 
which  to  breed  red  fox  Hounds. 

A  Hound  not  capable  o,f  catching  a  red  fox  is  of  no  value 
to  a  fox-hunter.  Ninety -nine  out  of  one  hundred  of  the 
Hounds  of  the  country  can  not  do  it.  And  if  the  American 
Hound  is  to  be  made  what  he  should  be,  it  is  time  to  begin 
at  once  to  find  out  where  any  such  Hounds  are  as  have 
demonstrated,  by  actual  kills,  their  fitness  to  be  bred  from. 
It  is  of  no  use  to  bring  English  Hounds  here  expecting 
them  to  be  able  to  do  anything  with  our  foxes;  nor  to 
expect  to  produce  a  killing  pack  by  breeding  from  im- 
ported Hounds.  I  know  at  present  one  Hound  only,  bred 
even  on  one  side  (the  dam's)  from  an  imported  Hound,  that 
is  able  to  kill  a  red  fox.  I  have  never  seen  an  imported 
Hound  able  to  do  it.  If  killing  packs  are  located  by  those 
ambitious  to  become  owners  of  such  Hounds,  they  must 
not  expect  to  get  them  fora  low  price;  one  hundred  dollars 
would  be  only  a  moderate  figure  for  a  good  Hound.  I  know 
many  dear  at  a  dollar  per  hundred.  No  animal  that  lives 
is  more  worthless  than  a  worthless  Hound. 

A  few  thoughts  and  suggestions  as  to  kennel  manage- 
ment are  now  in  order.  Let  everything  in  this  line  be 
simple,  natural  as  possible,  and  inexpensive.  Expensive- 
ness  means  artificiality,  and  that  means  a  worthless  pack. 
A  pack  of  Hounds  should  associate  together  as  much  as  is 
allowable  with  a  minimum  of  restraint.  One  good-sized 
building  in  the  center  of  a  yard  inclosed  by  a  picket-fence 
is  the  best  arrangement.  There  should  be  no  floor  except 
the  ground,  and  there  should  be  an  ordinary  door  to  admit 
a  man  of  full  height  without  stooping;  also  a  good  and 
well-hung  and  latched  gate  to  the  yard,  and  a  lock  on  door 
and  gate. 

Ordinarily  the  door  should  stand  open,  and  should  be 
hooked  to  the  side  of  the  building  to  keep  it  open.  The 
floor  must  be  kept  littered  with  clean  straw  or  shavings,  or 


THE   FOXHOUND.  205 

in  summer  with  green  pine-tags;  no  trees  near  by.  When 
the  Hounds  are  kenneled  at  night,  or  for  any  purpose  in 
the  day-time,  take  the  couples  off,  put  the  Hounds  in  the 
yard,  lock  the  gate,  and  allow  them  to  go  in  and  out  of 
the  house  at  pleasure. 

After  feeding  in  the  morning,  put  the  couples  on,  and 
let  the  Hounds  out  to  go  as  they  please.  Do  not  couple 
puppies  at  all,  nor  kennel  them,  except  at  night.  At  all 
seasons  of  the  year,  let  the  pack  out  to  follow  the  owner 
about  as  often  as  possible,  always  uncoupled.  Give  pup- 
pies and  young  Hounds  the  utmost  liberty  possible,  but 
never  let  them  be  out  of  the  kennel  at  night.  Whenever 
the  Hounds  are  wanted,  blow  them  up  with  a  horn,  ^fever 
punish  them  except  it  be  necessary,  and  then  whale  them 
soundly  with  a  good  whip.  JSTo  dog  becomes  more  attached 
to  his  owner,  nor  is  more  easily  controlled  by  one  who 
understands  it.  Some  men  do,  some  men  don't;  some  men 
can,  some  men  can't.  The  last  three  Hounds  I  owned,  of 
the  old  blue-mottled  breed — two  dogs  and  a  spayed  bitch- 
were  so  attached  to  me  that  it  was  actually  dangerous  for 
anyone  to  suddenly  approach  me  if  they  were  near  by. 
They  were  never  coupled,  and  only  kenneled  at  night  to 
prevent  them  from  being  suspected  of  mischief. 

When  the  young  Hounds  are  about  a  year  old,  they 
should  be  taken,  one  or  two  at  a  time,  with  one  or  two  old 
Hounds  and  taught  to  run.  If  you  take  young  ducks  to  the 
water,  they  will  swim;  and  if  you  take  young  hounds,  well 
bred,  to  the  field,  they  will  run.  Experience  is  all  they  want; 
and  this  a  man  who  knows  how  to  hunt  knows  how  to  give 
them.  At  first,  the  old  Hounds  will  show  the  way  and  the 
inexperienced  will  follow  at  their  heels;  but  in  no  long 
time,  a  youngster,  grown  ambitious,  will  push  for  the  lead. 

It  is  worth  while  to  suggest  that  a  very  necessary  adjunct 
to  a  breeding  kennel  is  a  dog-proof  apartment,  with  room 
enough  for  two,  for  bitches  in  season.  This  apartment 
must  be  such  that  no  dog  can,  by  any  possibility,  get  in  or 
out  except  through  the  door.  It  must  have  a  light  floor,  or 
some  dog  is  sure  to  dig  under  and  get  in. 


206  THE   AMERICAN   BOOK   OF  THE  DOG. 

In  the  matter  of  feeding,  variety  is  necessary.  No 
animal  thrives  well  confined  to  one  sort  of  food.  The 
Hound  is  a  large  and  most  energetic  animal,  and  must  be 
liberally  fed.  It  is  the  potential  energy  of  the  food  which 
develops  into  the  dynamical  energy  of  speed  and  endur- 
ance. It  is  the  protoplasmic  substance  of  food  which  is 
converted  into  muscle  and  nerve,  and  the  minerals  of  the 
ash  of  the  food  which  are  converted  into  bone,  by  the  marvel- 
ous workings  of  the  animal  economy.  The  Hound  itself, 
in  its  perfection,  the  music  of  its  tongue,  and  the  arrowy 
swiftness  of  its  pace,  are  neither  less  nor  more  than  the 
varied  products  of  the  vital  metamorphoses  of  its  food. 
Give  it  plenty;  it  is  greedy  not  without  a  cause;  give  it 
variety,  for  it  has  the  same  disgust  for  eternal  sameness 
that  you  and  I  have.  Give  scraps  from  the  table — bread, 
meat,  bones,  vegetables;  from  the  kitchen,  hot  liquor  and 
the  varied  offal  which  accumulates  there.  Meal,  ground 
of  equal  parts  of  rye,  oats,  and  corn,  and  baked  in  thick 
pones,  is  a  good  working  diet.  The  dairy  will  furnish  skim- 
milk,  curds,  whey,  buttermilk,  bonny-clabber.  When  you 
butcher  a  beef  or  kill  hogs,  unkennel  the  pack  and  let  them 
gorge;  it  delights  and  does  them  good.  Bear  in  mind  that 
we  are  trying  to  follow  nature,  rather  than  a  cut-and-dried 
artificial  system. 

This  article  is  written  from  the  stand-point  of  the  coun- 
try gentleman  helping  to  make  helpful  suggestions  to  those 
who  desire  to  adopt  the  fox-hunt  as  the  manliest  and  most 
invigorating,  the  most  delightful,  of  the  sports  of  the  field, 
and  to  help  to  make  it  the  national  sport  of  America. 
Therefore,  those  to  whom  the  hunt  is  a  mere  fashionable  fad, 
will  probably  not  find  much  to  amuse  and  less  to  instruct 
them,  seeing  that  they  know  everything  which  is  "really 
so  English,  don't  you  know,"  It  is  hoped  that  gentle- 
men of  moderate  means,  lovers  of  horse  and  hound,  will 
be  encouraged  to  take  up  the  sport  and  to  maintain  a 
pack,  which  can  be  done  at  a  very  moderate  expense.  If  a 
gentleman  be  so  situated  that  he  can  breed  and  train  his 
own  hunting-horse,  I  am  sure  he  will  take  more  pleasure  in 


THE    FOXHOUND.  207 

him  than  he  could  otherwise  do.  All  that  is  here  recom- 
mended is  the  result  of  the  writer's  personal  experience, 
which  has  been  a  ID  pie. 

Shooting  and  fishing  have  been  so  overdone  that  it  is 
evident  that  what  remains  of  them,  worth  attention,  will 
be  rapidly  taken  up  and  preserved  by  the  exclusive  and 
the  wealthy.  The  noble  sport  of  fox-hunting  remains, 
and  will  ever  remain,  within  reach  of  the  people.  It  can 
never  be  preserved.  It  can  neither  be  monopolized  by  pro- 
fessionalism nor  ruined  by  "records."  It  is  a  sport  in 
which  ladies  may  and  should  freely  participate,  and  hence 
it  can  scarcely  be  vulgarized. 

From  an  experience  of  thirty  years  in  the  medical  pro- 
fession, the  writer  is  of  opinion  that  there  are  fifty  delicate 
women  who  would  be  physically  regenerated  by  horseback 
exercise  to  one  who  would  be  in  the  ]east  degree  injured 
by  it.  Unless  we  become  a  nation  of  fox-hunters,  we 
shall  very  surely  become  a  nation  of  dog-carters.  A  mul- 
titude of  arguments  in  favor  of  hunting  suggest  them- 
selves; it  is  difficult  to  find  one  valid  argument  of  a  contrary 
effect. 

It  remains  to  glance  at  the  subject  of  the  diseases  of 
Foxhounds.  If  the  rational  system  of  kennel  management 
be  adopted,  and  the  hygiene  of  the  kennel  be  attended  to, 
there  will  seldom  be  a  sick  Hound.  They  are  a  race  of 
animals  naturally  preeminently  hardy.  The  hygiene  of 
the  kennel  consists  in  a  few  simple  things.  Let  the  ken- 
nel be  clean,  dry,  light,  and  warm.  Let  the  Hounds  be  out 
as  much  as  possible,  but  always  kennel  them  at  night.  If 
a  neighbor  has  sheep  killed  by  curs,  he  can  not  lay  it  to  the 
Hounds  if  they  were  locked  up  in  the  kennel.  When  the 
Hounds  are  let  out,  they  may  be  coupled;  and  they  should 
always  be  broken  to  the  couple,  but  should  not  be  kept 
coupled  merely  from  habit.  If  they  are  not  likely  to 
get  into  mischief,  let  them  run  loose.  The  couple  should 
be  a  stiff  iron  rod,  not  over  six  inches  long,  with  an  inch  ring 
for  the  collar  at  each  end.  If  longer,  they  are  always  liable 


208  THE   AMEEICAN   BOOK   OF  THE   DOG. 

to  get  hung  by  all  sorts  of  obstructions,  and  are  bent  and 
twisted  out  of  shape. 

In  the  make-up  of  a  pack  I  have  found  spayed  bitches 
to  be  desirable.  They  are  in  no  respect  inferior  to  dogs, 
and  they  are  in  every  way  more  pleasant  to  handle,  being 
far  less  disposed  to  wander  out  of  bounds  or  get  into  any 
kind  of  mischief.  The  greatest  couj)le  of  Foxhounds  I  ever 
have  known  were  litter  sisters,  spayed  when  about  two 
months  old,  which  is  the  best  time  to  spay.  The  operation 
is  simple  and  safe,  and  if  performed  prior  to  sexual  devel- 
opment is  not  productive  of  the  least  tendency  to  obesity, 
even  in  old  age.  I  have  always  believed  that  the  instincts 
of  spayed  bitches,  if  the  operation  precedes  sexual  devel- 
opment, were,  like  those  of  worker  bees,  superior  to  the 
sexually  developed  individuals.  The  most  remarkable 
exhibitions  of  nose  I  have  ever  seen,  both  in  the  Hound  and 
the  Setter  or  Pointer,  as  well  as  the  Field  Spaniel,  were  by 
spayed  bitches.  And  the  thing  much  in  their  favor  is, 
that  they  are  much  more  patient  than  dogs  or  open  bitches 
of  kennel  discipline,  and  in  my  opinion,  at  least,  less  sub- 
ject to  disease. 

This  article  must  now  be  brought  to  a  close.  If  it  shall 
aid  in  inducing  lovers  of  the  Hound  to  act  in  concert  to  push 
this  sport  to  the  front  as  the  recognized  national  sport  of 
the  American  country  gentleman,  the  object  of  the  writer 
will  have  been  accomplished.  If  wealthy  clubs  of  city 
gentlemen  are  disposed  to  join  in  the  movement  to  Ameri- 
canize and  nationalize  this  great  sport,  they  will  find  the 
country  gentlemen  ready  to  cooperate  in  every  way.  That  it 
is  a  matter  of  national  importance,  in  connection  with  the 
development  of  the  American  saddle-horse  and  the  Amer- 
ican horsemanship  of  the  future,  the  writer  does  not  doubt. 
He  pleads  guilty  to  a  rank  enthusiasm  for  horse  and 
hound  and  horn,  but  he  believes  that  he  is  not  mistaken 
in  supposing  that  unless  fox-hunting  becomes  our  national 
sport,  our  national  horsemanship  will  dwindle  until  it 
amounts  to  nothing,  and  all  our  people  will  take  to  dog- 
carts. Whether  this  will  be  a  national  calamity  there 
ought  not  to  be  two  opinions. 


THE  BASSET  HOUND. 


BY  LAWRENCE   TIMPSON. 

Basset  Frangais,  or  the  Basset  Hound,  as  lie  is 
known  to  us,  is  undoubtedly  one  of  the  oldest 
breeds  of  dogs,  and  has  existed  in  France  in  exactly 
the  same  type  that  he  does  to-day  for  many  centuries. 
The  French,  however,  have  kept  no  systematic  records  of 
sports  and  sporting  dogs,  and  it  is  only  within  the  last  few 
years,  since  the  English  have  taken  up  the  breed,  that  the 
history  of  the  Basset  Hound  has  been  collected  and  written. 

They  were  down  to  the  seventeenth  century  known  in 
France  as  Chiens  d'Artois,  but  since  then  this  name  has 
been  transferred  to  and  used  only  to  designate  the  large 
Picardy  Hounds,  and  the  breed  under  discussion  has  been 
given  the  name  of  Basset. 

The  Basset  Frangais  and  the  Basset  Allemand,  or,  as  he 
is  better  known,  the  Dachshund,  had  undoubtedly  a  com- 
mon origin;  but  the  Basset  Hound  of  to-day  has  main- 
tained all  the  characteristics  of  a  true  Hound,  whereas  the 
Dachshund  has  some  of  the  attributes  of  a  Terrier. 

The  Basset  Frangais  is  divided  into  two  strains,  the 
smooth-coated  and  the  rough-coated;  the  former  coming 
originally  from  the  province  of  Artois  and  the  latter  from 
Flanders.  Both  these  strains  are  divided  again  into  three 
classes:  (1)  the  crooked-legged  (Basset  d  janibes  tortues), 
(2)  the  half  crooked -legged  (Basset  d  jambes  demi-tortues\ 
and  (3)  the  straight-legged  (Basset  d  jambes  droites). 

In  France,  all  crooked-legged  dogs  are  spoken  of  by 
the  people  generally  as  Bassets,  the  same  as  in  Germany 
such  a  dog  would  be  called  a  Dachs;  so  the  term  sometimes 
conveys  as  little  (or  still  less)  significance  as  the  word 
Terrier  does  with  us. 

14  (209) 


210  THE  AMERICAN   BOOK   OF   THE  DOG. 

The  six  classes  of  the  Basset  Francais  that  I  have 
named  all  have  their  respective  admirers;  but  for  the  pur- 
poses of  this  article  I  shall  only  take  and  describe  as  the 
Basset  Hound  the  smooth-coated  Artois  strain,  with  crooked 
legs,  as  it  is  the  type  generally  preferred  and  recognized. 

All  the  six  classes  have  a  general  similarity  to  one 
another.  The  rough-coated  strain,  or  Basset  Grifon,  as 
they  are  called,  correspond  more  closely  to  the  English 
Otter-hound  in  coat  and  coloring,  have  more  courage 
and  worse  tempers,  and  are  much  less  desirable  as  pets  than 
the  smooth-coated  strain.  The  half  crooked-legged  variety 
are  lighter  in  build  than  the  crooked-legged;  and  the 
straight-legged  ones  are  much  lighter  and  faster  still, 
approaching,  in  the  smooth-coated  strain,  more  nearly  to 
the  English  Beagle. 

All  friends  of  the  Basset  Hound  owe  a  great  debt  of 
gratitude  to  the  Count  le  Couteult  de  Canteleu.  He  has 
for  some  years  gone  to  great  trouble  and  expense  collect- 
ing all  the  information  possible  about  the  history  of  this 
ancient  breed,  in  which  he  justly  takes  such  a  patriotic 
pride,  and  in  obtaining  the  best  specimens  in  existence  in 
France,  breeding  them,  and  establishing  the  breed  again 
in  public  favor.  It  is  directly  from  him,  or  through  him, 
that  most  of  the  English  breeders  have  obtained  their  dogs. 
He  is  one  of  the  few  French  noblemen  of  to-day  who 
love  and  devote  themselves  to  sport  for  sport's  sake,  living 
the  life  of  a  grand-seigneur  on  his  magniricent  estate. 

The  history  of  the  Basset  Hound  in  England  begins  in 
1874,  when  Mr.  Everett  Millais  first  saw  one  in  the  collec- 
tion at  the  Jardin  d'  Acclimation .  at  Paris.  He  was  so 
taken  with  the  looks  of  the  breed  that  he  purchased  and 
imported  Model,  whom  he  showed  that  year  at  Wolver- 
hampton.  Lord  Onslow  was,  I  believe,  the  next  one  across 
the  channel  to  take  this  breed  up,  commencing  in  1875  to 
form  his  little  pack,  which  had  so  many  merry  little  runs  in 
the  neighborhood  of  Guilford.  Mr.  Millais  was  forced,  a 
few  years  later,  to  give  up  breeding  and  go  abroad,  on 
account  of  ill-health,  and  Lord  Onslow,  for  some  reason, 


THE   BASSET   HOUND. 


211 


broke  up  his  pack  at  the  same  time.     About  this  time  Mr.  ;,- 
Krehl  joined  the  ranks  of  the  Basset  Hound  men,  and  the 
subsequent  popularity  and  success  of  the  breed  in  England 
is  owing  in  a  great  part  to  his  energy. 

In  February,  1883,  at  a  meeting  of  the  principal  English 
breeders  at  25  Downing  street,  London,  the  Basset  Hound 
Club  was  formed,  for  the  purpose  of  encouraging  the  breed- 
ing of  Basset  Hounds  for  exhibition  and  for  hunting  pur- 
poses. The  following  members  were  enrolled : 

Messrs.  Blaine,  Munro,  D.  C.  Crake,  G.  R.  Krehl,  W.  P. 


CHAMPION   NEMOURS. 
Owned  by  the  Maizeland  Kennels,   Red  Hook,   N.  J. 

Alleyne,  H.  B.  Watson,  H.  Wyndham  Carter,  G.  Barton,  H. 
Blackett,  C.  Collett,  A.  Masson,  E.  Durant,  C.  Blackburne, 
and  A.  Krehl.  Count  le  Couteult  de  Canteleu  was  elected 
president,  and  Lord  Onslow  and  Mr.  G.  R.  Krehl,  vice- 
presidents;  Mr.  G.  R.  Krehl,  honorary  treasurer;  Mr. 
H.  Wyndham  Carter,  honorary  secretary;  and  Messrs.  W. 
P.  Alleyne,  E.  Durant,  H.  B.  Watson,  G.  R.  Krehl,  and 
H.  Wyndham  Carter,  a  committee. 

It  was  proposed  to  form  a  pack  for  hunting,  with  its 
headquarters  at  Maidenhead — Mr.  Alleyne,  who  was  elected 


212  THE   AMERICAN   BOOK    OF   THE   DOG. 

huntsman,  kindly  consenting  to  allow  the  club  the  use  of 
his  kennels  there. 

About  this  time,  too,  Basset  Hounds  came  into  royal 
favor,  as  Mr.  Krehl  presented  a  brace  of  puppies — by 
Jupiter — to  H.  R.  H.  the  Prince  of  Wales  for  his  use  in 
Scotland  for  rabbit-shooting,  which  gift  His  Royal  High- 
ness was  graciously  pleased  to  accept,  sending  Mr.  Krehl, 
as  a  mark  of  his  appreciation,  a  scarf-pin  in  the  design  of 
the  Prince's  Plumes,  and  the  initials  "A.  E."  set  in  brill- 
iants. In  1883,  Mr.  Chamberlain  purchased  -Nemours  from 
Mr.  Krehl,  and  brought  him  out  to  America  for  the  Maize- 
land  Kennels.  To  Nemours  belongs  the  honor  of  being  the 
first  Basset  Hound  brought  to  America,  except,  perhaps, 
the  brace  by  Jupiter  that  the  late  Lord  Aylesford  brought 
out  about  the  same  time  to  use  for  rabbit-shooting  on  his 
ranch  near  Big  Springs,  Texas. 

In  the  following  spring,  1884,  the  Westminster  Kennel 
Club  kindly  made  a  class  for  Basset  Hounds  at  the  New 
York  Show,  and  Nemours  made  his  bow  to  the  American 
public. " 

The  first  to  follow  Lord  Aylesford' s  and  Mr.  Chamber- 
lain' s  lead  and  import  Basset  Hounds  to  America,  was  Mr. 
C.  B.  Gilbert,  of  New  Haven,  who.  in  1885,  brought  out  Ber- 
trand,  by  Bourbon,  and  Canace,  by  Jupiter.  He  has  since 
bred  a  brace  of  good  puppies  out  of  them — Jose  and  Juan. 
The  only  others  that  have  been  imported  and  exhibited  here, 
as  yet,  are  Babette,  by  Merlin,  who  made  her  debut  at 
New  York  in  1889,  being  shown  by  Mr.  Charles  Porter,  of 
Philadelphia,  and  Mr.  Cornelius  Stevenson's  Chasseur,  by 
Farmer,  who  appeared  at  New  York  this  year.  I  trust  that 
soon  these  beautiful  little  Hounds  will  receive  the  attention 
they  deserve  from  American  fanciers  and  sportsmen. 

Basset  Hounds  are  by  all  odds  superior  to  Beagles  for 
rabbit-shooting,  beating  them  in  nose,  tongue,  and  staying 
powers.  Their  powers  of  scent  are  marvelous;  and  so  well 
do  they  indicate  their  excitement  by  their  waving  sterns, 
that  as  the  scent  becomes  warmer  and  warmer  one  can  tell 
almost  exactly  the  moment  when  they  are  about  to  open 


THE  BASSET  HOUND.  213 

on  it.  Their  clear,  deep,  bell-like  notes  are  far  sweeter  than 
those  of  any  other  Hound,  and  when  they  are  hidden  in 
cover,  tell  exactly  what  they  are  doing.  When  once  heard, 
the  clear  ring  of  their  notes  is  never  forgotten.  Their  short, 
crooked  legs  seem  almost  incapable  of  being  tired,  and  their 
natural  pace  is  about  seven  miles  an  hour.  For  hunting 
on  foot  they  are  as  superior  to  Beagles  as  for  being  shot 
over  on  rabbits,  but  their  value  renders  a  pack  of  any  size 
out  of  the  question.  The  scratch  pack  that  the  members  of 
the  Basset  Hound  Club  kept,  showed  very  good  sport. 

Basset  Hounds  have  the  best  of  tempers.  I  have  never 
known  of  one  to  attempt  to  bite,  except  in  the  case  of  pup- 
pies when  being  punished  for  some  misdemeanor  or  other, 
and  then  they  did  it  from  fright  more  than  from  ill  nature. 
In  fact,  their  disposition  is  a  trifle  too  mild  and  inoffensive 
for  a  sporting  dog;  although  they  run  game  with  the  utmost 
keenness,  and  when  their  quarry  is  standing  "at  bay" 
they  will  give  tongue  with  the  utmost  fierceness,  usually 
showing  no  desire  to  go  in  for  blood,  even  in  the  case  of  a 
rabbit.  In  the  latter  case  they  would  usually  play  with  it 
as  though  it  were  a  puppy,  if  left  to  themselves:  Against 
other  dogs,  too,  they  seldom  try  to  defend  themselves. 

Puppies  are  rather  hard  to  rear,  especially  in  a  cold 
climate,  but  the  old  dogs  are  very  hardy.  Even  among  the 
best-bred  specimens,  the  teeth  are  sometimes  very  small, 
unusually  many  in  number,  and  the  lower  jaw  shorter  than 
the  upper.  Basset  Hound  puppies  are  most  whimsical- 
looking  little  beggars,  and  their  big  bright  eyes  have  the 
softest,  dreamiest  expression  imaginable. 

There  is  something  of  an  Old  World  air  about  a  Basset 
Hound;  his  appearance  has  something  quaint  and  mediaeval 
in  it.  It  makes  one  think  insensibly  of  old  tapestries  rep- 
resenting a  grand  cTiasse  at  the  forest  court  of  one  of  the 
old  Valois  kings  at  Fontainbleau,  where  the  Basset  Hound 
undoubtedly  "posed,"  not  only  in  his  sporting  capacity, 
but  as  the  pet  of  the  great  ladies,  who  probably  held  him  in 
as  high  favor  as  the  ladies  of  Elizabeth's  court  did  Basket 
Beagles. 


214  THE   AMERICAN   BOOK   OF  THE  DOG. 

Below  is  given  the  standard  and  scale  of  points  of  the 
Basset  Hound : 

Value.  Value 

Head 25  Coat 10 

Neck  and  chest 10  Color 10 

Fore  legs  and  feet r. 15  Size  and  symmetry 10 

Ribs  and  loin 10 

Hind  quarters  and  stern 10  Total TOO 

Head,  resembling  that  of  the  Bloodhound  in  shape  and 
dignity  of  expression,  long,  rather  narrow,  and  well  peaked, 
with  little  or  no  stop.  Jaws  long,  strong,  and  level;  teeth 
rather  small.  Nose  usually  black;  but  some  good  ones 
have  had  considerable  white  about  theirs.  Mouth  well 
flewed.  Ears  long,  large,  and  soft,  hanging  like  the  softest 
velvet  drapery.  Eyes  are  a  deep  brown,  very  expressive, 
rather  deeply  set,  and  showing  a  good  deal  of  haw;  expres- 
sion affectionate,  intelligent,  and  good-humored,  though 
occasionally  reflective  and  melancholy. 

Neck  and  chest. — The  neck  is  long,  but  very  powerful, 
with  flews  extending  nearly  to  the  chest.  The  chest  is  well 
developed,  overhanging,  and  extending  to  within  nearly  two 
inches  of  the  ground 

Forelegs  and  feet. — The  shoulders  are  of  great  power. 
Legs  very  short,  and  turning  inward  at  the  knees;  and  the 
feet,  which  appear  to  be  a  mass  of  joints,  considerably  bent 
out. 

Ribs  and  loin.— The  back  and  ribs  are  strongly  put 
together,  and  the  former  is  of  great  length. 

Hind  quarters  and  stern. — The  hind  quarters  are  very 
strong  and  muscular,  the  muscles  standing  out,  and  clearly 
defined  down  to  the  hocks. 

Coat. — The  skin  is  soft,  and  the  coat  smooth  and  close, 
though  moderately  hard  and  very  weather-resisting  in  qual- 
ity, and  when  the  dog  is  in  condition,  showing  a  beautiful 
natural  gloss. 

Color. — The  tri-color,  which  has  a  tan  head  and  a  black 
and  white  body,  is  much  preferred;  but  they  come  in  all 
the  varieties  of  white  and  black-and-tan. 

Size  and  symmetry. — Bassets  come  in  all  sizes,  from  nine 


THE   BASSET   HOUND. 


215 


to  twelve  inches  at  shoulder  and  at  from  twenty-six  to 
forty-eight  pounds  in  weight  and  over.  The  best  size  is  say 
about  eleven  or  twelve  inches  at  the  shoulder  and  about 
forty  to  forty-five  pounds  in  weight.  The  Basset  has  more 
bone  in  proportion  to  his  size  than  any  other  breed,  and  his 
symmetry  is  an  important  point  in  his  make-up. 

No  especial  care  is  necessary  in  preparing  Basset  Hounds 
for  the  show  bench,  further  than  ordinary  attention  to 
health,  condition,  and  coat.  These  dogs  usually  c '  show 
up"  well  on  the  bench,  and  rather  appear  to  enjoy  their 
outings  at  shows. 

The  subject  of  our  illustration,  Champion  Nemours  (E. 
K.  C.  S.  B.,  14068),  owned  by  the  Maizeland  Kennels,  was  got 
by  Champion  Jupiter  (12152),  out  of  Vivien  (13340).  He  was 
whelped  March  21,  1883,  and  was  bred  by  Mr.  George  R. 
Krehl,  Hanover  Square,  London.  His  winnings  are:  First, 
New  York;  first,  Philadelphia;  first,  National  Breeders' 
Show,  1884;  first  and  two  specials,  New  Haven;  first,  Bos- 
ton; first,  New  York,  1885;  second,  New  York;  champion, 
Boston,  1886;  first,  New  York,  1888. 


THE  DACHSHUND. 


BY  WILLIAM  LOEFFLEK. 

origin  of  the  Dachshund  is  in  doubt,  our  best 
authorities  disagreeing  as  to  the  beginning  of  the 
breed.  Some  writers  claim  that  he  came  from 
Spain,  while  the  fact  that  no  Dachshunds  exist  there,  which 
can  be  traced  back  to  Spanish  origin,  places  this  statement 
in  doubt.  Other  authorities  claim  the  Dachshund  to  be 
the  oldest  breed  known,  as  carvings  have  been  discovered 
on  Egyptian  monuments  resembling  the  Dachshund  of  the 
present  day.  I  lean  more  to  the  theory  that  the  Dachs- 
hund originated  in  France,  as  the  Basset  Hound  is  known 
to  be  of  French  origin,  and  the  two  breeds  have  many 
characteristics  in  common.  There  undoubtedly  exists  a 
close  relationship  between  the  two  breeds,  as  the  contour 
of  the  fore  legs  and  paws  in  both  breeds  is  identical. 

It  has  been  proven  that  during  the  invasion  by  the 
French  armies,  in  the  seventeenth  century,  the  Basset 
Hound  was  first  seen  in  Germany,  while  previous  to  that 
time  we  have  no  positive  proof  that  the  Dachshund 
existed  there.  We  may  therefore  reasonably  suppose 
that  by  inbreeding  of  the  Basset  Hound  in  Germany, 
since  that  period,  the  size  of  the  breed  has  been  reduced, 
thereby  better  adapting  the  dog  for  the  purposes  required 
of  him  in  that  country,  but  that  by  judicious  breeding,  cer- 
tain traits  and  qualities  have  since  been  developed  which 
have  established  the  Dachshund  in  his  present  form. 

Suppose  a  Hound  set  upon  short  legs,  say  from  four  to 
six  inches  high,  with  a  long-stretched  body,  and  you  have 
the  outlines  of  the  Dachshund's  appearance  in  brief.  At 
the  first  glance  you  see  that  he  is  intended  for  underground 
work,  nearly  all  his  muscular  power  being  developed  in 

(217) 


218 


THE  AMERICAN    BOOK    OF   THE   DOG. 


the  forepart  of  his  body.     The  appearance  of  the  Dachs- 
hund   is    striking,   and  to  those  unacquainted  with    the 


DACHSHUND— WALDEMANN    II. 
Owned  by  Mr.  William  Loeffler,  168  Sherman  street,  Milwaukee,  Wis. 

breed  is  such  as  to  attract  great  attention.  It  has  taken  a 
long  time  for  American  observers  to  become  accustomed  to 
him,  and  to  learn  to  like  him. 


THE   DACHSHUND.  219 

There  are  two  types  of  the  Dachshund,  the  Hound  and 
the  Terrier  type.  Both  are  of  equal  value,  and  are  most 
carefully  bred.  In  the  southern  parts  of  Germany,  and  in 
all  England,  the  Hound  type  is  more  generally  found,  and  is 
more  popular,  while  in  the  northern  part  of  the  Empire 
the  Terrier  type  appears  to  be  the  favorite.  Both  types 
are  used  for  one  and  the  same  purpose,  both  have  the  same 
characteristics,  and  it  is  only  a  matter  of  fancy  as  to  which 
is  the  better. 

As  soon  as  bench  shows  were  introduced  in  Germany, 
the  question  of  course  sprung  up  as  to  which  is  the  most 
correct  type;  but  this  question,  up  to  the  present  day,  is 
not  decided,  and  probably  never  will  be.  Of  late,  the 
Hound  type  seems  to  be  in  general  favor  at  all  shows  on 
the  Continent,  in  England,  and  in  America.  I  have  always 
preferred  the  Hound-like  dog,  as  I  consider  him  the  best- 
looking  one  of  the  two  species.  I  shall  now  give  a  detailed 
description  of  the  Hound  type. 

STANDAKD   AND   VALUE   OF   POINTS. 

Value.  Value. 

Head  and  skull 12  Loin 8 

Ears 6i  Stern 5 

Jaw 5  Body 8i 

Chest 7  Color 4 

Legs  and  feet 20  Symmetry  and  quality 11 

Skin  and  coat 13 

Total 100 

Head. — Large;  resembles  that  of  a  Hound,  with  the 
exception  that  it  is  more  wedge-shaped. 

Nose. — Large  and  well  developed;  black  in  dark-colored 
dogs,  and  flesh-colored  in  reds,  mostly. 

Teeth. — Very  large,  showing  two  large  fangs  on  lower 
and  two  on  upper  jaw. 

Ears. — Long,  high  set,  and  so  thin  as  to  show  the  veins; 
covered  with  short,  silky  hair. 

Eyes. — The  Dachshund  has  beautiful  large  eyes,  full  of 
expression;  in  dark-colored  dogs,  mostly  jet-black;  in  reds 
a  brown  color  prevails.  Some  red  strains  show  black  noses 
and  jet-black  eyes,  and  this  is  no  fault. 

The  head  rests  on  a  very  strongly  developed  neck. 


220  THE   AMERICAN   BOOK   OF  THE   DOG. 

Chest. — No  other  breed  of  dogs  shows  such  depth  and 
breadth  of  chest  as  does  the  Dachshund,  the  chest-bone 
standing  out  of  the  body,  and  on  a  good  specimen  the 
chest  fills  out  nearly  the  entire  space  to  or  within  an  inch 
or  inch  and  a  half  of  the  knees.  The  chest  hangs  so  low 
as  to  be  only  from  three  to  four  inches  from  the  ground. 

Legs  and  feet. — The  fore-arms,  strong-boned  and  well- 
muscled,  run  inward  so  that  they  almost  form  a  right-angle 
with  the  lower  extremities.  At  the  knees,  the  legs  come 
together,  then  are  vertical  for  about  an  inch,  and  from  here 
the  feet  take  a  side  and  outward  course  and  form  the  long 
and  flat  paws. 

Toes. — Long  and  flat;  have  very  long  claws,  which  in 
black-and-tan  dogs  should  be  black,  and  in  reds  a  dark 
brown  or  black.  A  white  claw  is  a  defect.  It  is  a  question 
of  great  interest  as  to  how  the  formation  of  such  shaped 
legs  originated,  or  was  developed.  It  may  have  come  from 
some  freak  of  nature;  but  if  so,  it  has  been  by  careful 
breeding  kept  up,  and  is  now  one  of  the  most  marked 
features  of  the  breed. 

The  hind  legs  are  longer  than  the  fore  legs,  thus  giving 
the  long  body  an  inward  curve,  commonly  called  saddle- 
back. In  nearly  all  good  specimens,  well-developed  dew- 
claws  can  be  found;  but  these  are  often  removed,  as  they 
are  liable  to  annoy  the  dog  a  good  deal  when  wading 
through  crusty  snow.  The  claws  on  these  extra  toes  grow 
long  and  in  a  perfect  circle,  and  should  at  least  be  trimmed, 
or  else  they  grow  into  the  flesh  and  cause  the  dog  a  great 
deal  of  pain. 

Body. — Round,  long,  and  lithe. 

Tail. — Heavy  at  root,  and  tapering;  should  be  carried 
high,  as  in  the  Foxhound;  but  under  no  circumstances 
should  the  tail  be  carried  in  a  curve  over  the  back,  which  is 
a  great  fault. 

Color.  —  The  most  prevailing  and  most  familiar  colors 
are  black-and-tans,  chestnut  and  tans,  and  solid  reds— 
from  a  fawn -color  to  a  beautiful  deep  red.  Besides  these 
colors,  specimens  are  occasionally  found  of  black,  white, 


THE  DACHSHUND.  221 

and  tan  color,  called  in  Germany  Tiger-dachs;  or  steel- 
blue  and  tan,  a  magnificent  color,  but  rarely  seen. 

Skin. — Exceedingly  loose.  You  may  take  hold  of  the 
skin  on  neck  or  back  and  raise  it  four  to  six  inches;  it 
seems  as  if  the  skin  were  intended  for  a  body  twice  the  size 
of  the  one  it  covers.  The  loose  skin  is  a  great  advantage  to 
the  dog,  as  a  badger  or  other  animal  when  attacking  the 
Dachshund  will  get  hold  of  a  mouthful  of  skin  instead  of 
solid  flesh,  and  the  dog  suffers  no  serious  damage.  No 
other  breed  of  dogs  shows  this  characteristic  in  such  a 
marked  degree. 

Coat. — Short  and  thick. 

Here  is  the  measurement  of  a  Dachshund  that  I  consider 
as  near  perfection  as  has  yet  been  obtained :  Head,  eight 
inches  long;  length,  from  nose  to  root  of  tail,  thirty-three 
inches;  tail,  eleven  inches;  tip  to  tip,  forty-four  inches; 
height  at  shoulder,  ten  to  ten  and  one-half  inches;  girth  of 
body,  behind  fore-arms,  nineteen  and  one-half  inches;  girth 
of  neck,  fourteen  and  one-half  inches;  spread  of  ears, 
fifteen  inches;  around  main  muscle  of  fore-arm,  five  and 
one-half  inches;  chest,  from  ground,  four  inches;  weight, 
twenty  to  twenty-two  pounds. 

Specimens  of  the  Terrier  type  are,  as  a  general  rule, 
much  smaller  and  of  lighter  build  than  those  of  the  Hound 
type.  The  difference  in  shape  lies  mainly  in  the  head, 
which  in  the  former  is  shorter  and  more  pointed,  or 
sharper  toward  the  nose;  the  ears  are  not  so  long;  the  legs 
are  slightly  straighter.  In  weight,  specimens  of  the  Terrier 
type  vary  from  ten  to  sixteen  pounds. 

It  makes  no  difference,  however,  whether  you  send  a 
large  or  a  small  Dachshund  after  a  fox;  both  varieties  are 
equally  savage  and  ferocious  in  their  attacks,  and  the  pluck 
and  grit  they  exhibit  deserve  our  greatest  praise  and 
admiration. 

Much  has  been  written  of  the  Spiel-dachs,  or  Toy 
variety  of  the  Dachshund.  In  former  years  he  was  valued 
by  the  ladies  in  Germany  as  the  Pug  is  at  the  present  day 
in  this  country.  The  Spiel-dachs  was  nothing  else  than  a 


222  THE  AMERICAN   BOOK   OF  THE  DOG. 

Terrier  Dachshund  that  by  inbreeding  was  reduced  in 
size.  He  is  now  rarely  met  with,  but  could  at  any  time  be 
reproduced. 

The  long-haired  Dachshund  is  a  variety  which  has 
become  popular  of  late.  Occasionally  a  puppy  is  whelped 
by  a  smooth-coated  mother  which  shows  longer  hair  than 
the  rest  of  the  litter.  By  mating  such  specimens  with 
others  of  their  kind,  the  long-haired  variety  was  estab- 
lished. 

The  wire-haired  Dachshund,  also  a  fashion  of  later 
years,  undoubtedly  originated  by  introducing  the  blood  of 
the  Scotch  Terrier. 

The  disposition  of  the  Dachshund  is  peculiar.  He  will 
seek  a  quarrel  with  any  dog  he  may  meet;  the  larger  in 
size,  the  more  he  seems  to  enjoy  it.  He  will  go  up  to  the 
largest  Mastiff,  with  tail  erect,  and  snap  at  him.  Does  the 
Mastiff  show  a  desire  to  fight,  the  trouble  begins  at  once, 
and  will  not  end  until  one  or  the  other  has  had  enough  and 
seeks  safety  by  flight.  The  Dachshund  seldom  runs,  and 
in  case  he  finds  his  opponent's  strength  superior  to  his 
own,  he  will  lay  on  his  back  and  snap  at  the  larger  animal 
from  below,  thus  often  doing  great  injury. 

In  addition  to  his  quarrelsomeness,  he  is  the  most  inde- 
pendent dog  in  existence;  and  he  generally  does  what  he 
pleases.  He  will  not  obey  even  his  own  master,  and  all  the 
punishment  you  may  give  him  will  not  make  him  obedi- 
ent. Could  this  great  fault  be  overcome,  he  would  make 
the  hunting  dog  par  excellence,  for  he  is  untiring,  possessed 
of  the  greatest  endurance,  has  scenting  powers  and  good- 
will for  hunting.  He  will  do  no  training,  and  has  all  the 
good  qualities  a  sportsman  could  reasonably  ask  a  dog  to 
possess,  except  that  of  obedience.  This  trait  of  following 
his  own  instinct  when  hunting,  and  not  minding  his  mas- 
ter's  commands,  allows  us  only  to  use  him  on  game  living 
underground,  as  fox  or  badger,  or  on  such  game  as, 
when  pursued,  can  be  brought  to  bay  or  be  "  treed."  Then 
the  Dachshund  will  stay,  and  by  giving  tongue  will  in  this 
way  guide  his  master  to  the  game. 


THE  DACHSHUND.  223 

The  Dachshund  is  full  of  faults,  but  his  great  excel- 
lences, his  unparalleled  courage  and  endurance,  stand  so 
high  to  his  credit  that  all  deficiencies  are  overlooked,  and 
the  breed  kept  up  by  the  most  judicious  breeding.  It  is 
the  pride  of  European  sportsmen  to  own  courageous  speci- 
mens of  the  Dachshund,  and  as  long  as  the  fox  follows  his 
instinct  to  destroy  game  the  Dachshund  will  be  bred  and 
used  to  check  his  ravages. 

Never  leave  any  furs  within  reach  of  the  Dachshund, 
for  he  will  tear  them  to  pieces,  or  at  least  damage  them  to 
a  great  extent.  The  tiger-robe  in  your  parlors,  or  the  fine 
seal-jackets  of  the  ladies  of  the  house,  are  in  as  great 
danger  from  being  torn  up  as  the  raw  coon-skin  which  is 
nailed  to  a  tree  to  dry. 

In  Europe,  especially  in  Germany,  the  Dachshund  is 
principally  used  in  assisting  to  destroy  the  natural  enemy 
of  all  game,  the  fox.  Being  about  the  same  height  as  the 
fox,  he  can  follow  him  into  his  haunts;  and  possessing  the 
strongest  muscular  development  and  unparalleled  courage, 
he  will  fight  his  foe  underground  and  chase  him  out  of  his 
burrow,  where  he  becomes  an  easy  victim  for  the  hunter, 
who  is  stationed  near  the  entrances.  A  fox  generally 
has  more  than  one  outlet  to  his  burrow,  and  a  practical 
hunter  uses  a  dog  for  each  outlet.  The  brave  little  dogs 
enter  at  once,  and  give  tongue  when  assured  that  Rey- 
nard is  at  home.  The  fox  thus  attacked  can  not  escape 
their  sharp  teeth,  and  no  matter  how  bravely  he  defends 
his  life,  he  can  not  resist  such  a  fierce  attack,  and  is  bound 
to  run  for  his  life  or  be  exterminated,  and  often  pulled 
above  ground. 

When  a  single  dog  undertakes  the  difficult  task  of  driv- 
ing out  the  fox,  he  will  certainly  find  an  equally  brave  foe; 
and  many  dogs  lose  their  lives  in  this  way.  A  hunter 
who  loves  his  dog  will  not  send  him  alone  against  a  fox. 

Equally  as  much  as  for  driving  foxes  out  of  their  burrows, 
the  Dachshund  is  used  for  hunting  the  badger.  This  ani- 
mal does  not  try  to  save  his  life  by  flight,  as  the  fox  does, 
.but  will  stand  his  ground,  and  will  fight  the  battle  with 


224  THE  AMERICAN   BOOK   OF  THE  DOG. 

his  enemies  underground.  When  attacked,  he  retires  to 
the  "kettle,"  or  his  lair,  into  which  all  gangs  center;  and 
here  he  receives  his  antagonists,  the  Dachshunds,  and 
defends  his  life  with  the  greatest  bravery. 

The  fight  may  last  for  hours;  in  most  cases  the  dogs  are 
victorious,  but  often  the  fight  will  not  come  to  an  end,  and 
to  finish  the  work,  the  hunters  are  obliged  to  use  pick  and 
shovel  to  dig  down  and  fork  the  badger.  By  laying  the 
ear  close  to  the  ground  to  listen  to  their  dogs  barking,  the 
badgers  whereabouts  are  easily  located,  and  the  work  of 
unearthing  with  the  shovel  begins.  The  nearer  the  hunters 
get  to  the  badger,  the  clearer  they  can  hear  their  dogs. 
Now  one  man  watches  with  the  "fork,"  which  is  a  spear- 
like  instrument,  and-  the  minute  the  badger  is  seen,  the 
4 '  fork ' '  is  put  over  his  neck  and  he  is  caught.  You  can 
not  hold  the  dogs  back  from  finishing  their  foe. 

The  dogs  now  present  a  very  different  aspect  from  that 
shown  when  they  entered.  Eyes  and  ears  red  and  full  of 
dirt,  the  tongue  dry  and  hanging  near  the  ground,  their 
breath  short  and  quick,  and  bleeding  from  the  wounds  made 
by  their  enemy,  make  the  dogs  appear  more  like  demons 
than  dogs.  It  is  not  seldom  that,  when  the  badger  is  lifted 
up,  a  dog  whose  teeth  are  set  deep  into  his  body  hangs  to 
him  and  can  not  open  his  jaws,  and  it  takes  hours  before 
the  excitement  is  over  and  he  has  control  of  the  muscles  of 
his  jaws  again.  A  great  many  have  thus  died  of  lock-jaw. 

One  of  the  best  dogs  I  knew  lost  his  life  in  a  singular 
way.  The  badger  managed  to  get  hold  of  the  lower  jaw 
of  the  Dachshund,  and  literally  bit  it  off.  Lock-jaw  set  in, 
and  the  dog  that  had  been  victor  in  nearly  fifty  battles; 
whose  ears  were  nothing  but  fringes;  whose  chest,  neck, 
and  whole  body  showed  one  scar  near  the  other — had  to  die. 
Every  hunter  within  many  miles  felt  this  loss  deeply;  for 
all  these  men  looked  upon  this  dog  as  upon  a  dead  hero. 

No  matter  how  many  wounds  a  Dachshund  has  received, 
as  soon  as  he  is  in  such  shape  as  to  be  able  to  walk  and 
bite  again,  he  is  ready  for  another  chase;  and  he  will  fight 
fiercer  than  ever. 


THE   DACHSHUND.  225 

In  Europe,  it  is  the  game-keeper' s  duty  to  take  care  of 
the  game  intrusted  to  him;  and  a  fox  destroys  more  game 
in  a  season  than  the  average  hunter  kills.  Having  found 
the  proofs  that  such  a  robber  has  made  his  home  on  his 
intrusted  domain,  the  forester  has  no  rest  until  the 
intruder  is  exterminated.  Has  the  fox  made  his  home 
among  the  bluffs  and  rocks,  the  hunter  lays  in  wait  until 
a  chance  offers  to  shoot  Reynard.  To  simply  shoot  the  fox, 
in  this  case,  is  more  advisable  than  to  risk  the  lives  of  val- 
uable dogs,  who  would  certainly  be  in  great  danger,  as  the 
nature  of  the  bluffs  and  rocks,  filled  with  caves  and  crev- 
ices, is  such  that  the  dogs,  in  their  endeavor  to  get  at  the 
game,  would  be  likely  to  fall  into  them. 

In  many  cases  the  fox  takes  possession  of  an  old  badger- 
hole.  The  saying  is,  that  a  badger,  who  is  a  clean  animal, 
will  leave  his  lair  after  a  fox  has  deposited  his  manure 
there.  The  badger  mostly  digs  his  hole  in  loose  earth,  and 
if  the  fox  is  found  on  such  ground,  the  Dachshund  will  be 
brought  to  act;  and  this  is  the  work  nature  has  specially 
fitted  him  for.  The  dogs  are  relieved  of  their  collars,  that 
they  may  be  able  to  use  their  body  to  the  best  advantage. 
It  is  a  grand  sight  to  see  a  couple  of  Dachshunds  enter  a 
fox-hole,  chase  the  mother-fox  out  of  the  ground,  and  then 
go  for  the  kittens,  which  are  brought  out  one  by  one,  dead, 
of  course,  every  time.  This  is  a  grand  opportunity  to  teach 
a  puppy  a  good  lesson. 

The  German  game-keepers  value  these  dogs  about  the 
same  way  as  the  Arab  does  his  horse;  they  belong  to  the 
family,  and  it  is  difficult  to  procure  a  serviceable  Dachs- 
hund from  them.  When  I  was  in  Germany  selecting 
Dachshunds  for  my  kennels,  I  looked  for  them  among 
practical  hunters,  to  obtain  the  right  stock.  I  went  along 
to  see  their  work  and  ways  of  hunting;  found  beautiful 
dogs,  but  as  soon  as  I  offered  their  owners  a  price  for  them, 
our  friendship  was  nearly  ended. 

One  incident  I  must  here  mention,  which  happened  in 
the  woods  of  Thueringen,  away  from  all  traveled  roads, 
and  deep  in  God's  nature.  I  ran  onto  a  black-and-tan  of 

15 


226  THE   AMERICAN   BOOK   OF   THE   DOG. 

such  beauty,  and  of  such  excellence  for  practical  work,  as 
I  had  never  before  seen,  and  I  made  up  my  mind  to  procure 
this  specimen  under  any  circumstances.  After  we  returned 
from  a  hunt,  and  were  sitting  in  the  game-keeper' s  cabin, 
talking  of  nothing  but  Dachshunds,  of  course,  I  mentioned 
that  I  would  like  to  buy  Peter  from  him.  The  good- 
hearted  man  looked  at  me  and  said : 

"  That  dog  you  can  not  buy  at  any  price.  I  am  a  poor 
man,  as  everybody  knows,  but  as  long  as  I  have  ti  bite  of 
bread  left,  Peter  stays  with  me. ' ' 

Well,  I  never  put  the  question  to  him  again,  and  I  was 
assured  that  I  could  not  offer  Peter  a  better  home  than  the 
one  he  had.  The  price  offered  for  the  dog  was  nearly  equal 
to  the  game-keeper's  annual  salary. 

Besides  hunting  foxes  and  badgers,  the  Dachshund  is 
used  extensively  for  tracking  wounded  deer  and  roebuck, 
and  no  surer  trailer  lives.  The  dog  is  taken  by  the  line, 
and  he  follows  a  track  slowly,  but  as  infallibly  as  can 
be,  and  it  seldom  happens  that  he  fails  to  succeed.  When 
running  loose,  he  will  give  a  few  short  barks  when  the 
game  is  found,  and  then  start  at  once  to  lick  the  wound; 
then  commence  to  eat,  and  will  eat  until  he  can  not  eat 
any  more. 

This  is  a  bad  habit,  but  all  Dachshunds  possess  it.  But 
you  must  take  these  dogs  as  they  are,  with  all  their  good 
qualities,  and  with  all  their  many  faults.  I  therefore 
recommend  the  use  of  the  line  when  tracking  wounded 
game.  Besides  the  above  mentioned,  the  Dachshund  can 
be  used  successfully  to  hunt  minks  and  other  vermin. 
When  allowed  to  run  at  will,  he  will  hunt  anything,  from  a 
mouse  up. 

Now  that  I  have  illustrated  the  value  of  the  Dachs- 
hund for  Europe,  let  us  see  what  success  we  can  have  with 
him  here  in  America,  for  he  is  no  more  a  stranger  among 
us.  We  have  imported  as  fine  stock  as  Europe  could  pro- 
duce— though,  as  stated,  we  have  had  great  difficulty  in 
buying  them — and  hundreds  of  them  are  now  in  the  hands 
of  practical  American  sportsmen.  Many  are  dissatisfied 


THE  DACHSHUND.  227 

with  them;  others,  who  know  how  to  handle  them,  praise 
their  good  qualities. 

I  have  used  them  with  great  success  in  thick  under- 
brush and  briers,  where  larger  dogs  could  not  work,  on 
rabbits;  and  a  few  sportsmen,  stationed  in  the  right  way, 
have  found  their  chances  for  good  sport  excellent. 

In  deep  snow,  when  even  the  Foxhound  could  not  be  of 
service,  I  have  brought  my  Dachshund  (as  a  general  rule 
only  one,  and  never  more  than  a  couple)  to  new  breakings, 
where  there  were  plenty  of  brush -piles,  the  favorite  resort 
for  rabbits.  Don't  let  your  dog  follow  you  in  deep  snow, 
and  get  him  tired  out  before  his  work  begins.  Carry  your 
little  dog  in  your  arms,  or  in  the  game-sack.  He  will  enter 
a  brush-pile  at  once,  and  in  a  minute1  s  time  you  will  know 
whether  you  may  expect  a  rabbit  here  or  not.  If  he  gives 
tongue,  you  may  with  certainty  expect  a  shot;  for  he 
never  barks  before  he  is  dead-sure  of  the  presence  of  game. 
His  scenting  powers  are  the  keenest,  and  he  does  not  make 
a  mistake.  As  I  said  before,  as  soon  as  the  dog  barks,  be 
ready  to  shoot,  for  the  rabbit  will  be  obliged  to  run  when  a 
Dachshund  is  after  him.  The  dog  works  his  way  through 
the  brush  almost  like  a  snake,  and  will  get  to  the  rabbit 
sooner  or  later.  As  soon  as  a  shot  is  fired,  he  will  come 
out  and  follow  the  trail,  and  in  case  the  rabbit  is  missed, 
will  bring  him  to  shot  again. 

Should  the  snow  be  too  deep,  don't  allow  him  to  follow, 
for  he  is  too  small  to  work  against  deep  snow.  Take  to 
the  next  brush-pile,  and  try  your  luck  again.  In  this  way 
I  have  often  shot  from  ten  to  twenty-five  rabbits  in  half  a 
day,  and  on  a  comparatively  small  field. 

When  hunting  with  a  pack  of  Dachshunds,  you  will 
notice  the  following :  As  soon  as  unchecked,  all  dogs  will 
at  once  scatter,  and  each  will  hunt  for  a  trail  by  himself. 
For  awhile  you  will  not  hear  a  sound  from  your  dogs,  but 
as  soon  as  one  of  them  has  scared  up  game,  he  will  utter  a 
shrill,  sharp  bark,  something  like  ' '  kiff,  kiff -kiff ! "  As  soon 
as  the  rest  of  the  pack  hear  this  signal,  they  will  meet  at 
once,  and  chase  the  rabbit  in  a  body,  under  full  cry.  They 


228  THE   AMERICAN   BOOK   OF   THE  DOG. 

now  act  in  the  same  way  as  a  pack  of  Beagles  or  Fox- 
hounds, and  surely  bring  the  game  around.  But  should 
the  rabbit  go  to  earth,  your  hunt,  for  an  hour,  or  may  be 
for  all  day,  is  over;  for  the  dogs  will  now  follow  their 
instinct,  and  commence  to  dig  fpr  their  game. 

If  the  ground  is  not  frozen,  or  if  no  rocks  interfere, 
they  will  always  succeed  in  pulling  out  the  rabbit,  no  mat- 
ter how  long  it  takes  them  to  do  it.  It  is  impossible  to 
call  the  dogs  away  from  this  work.  Often  they  stay  under- 
ground for  an  hour  at  a  time  before  they  show  themselves 
at  the  entrance.  The  smallest  dog  goes  to  dig  first,  a  larger 
one  is  near  to  clear  the  loose  earth  out  of  the  hole;  and  you 
can  not  see  a  more  interesting  sight  than  such  a  one.  The 
earth  flies  in  all  directions,  and  in  a  very  short  time  the 
dogs  have  dug  their  way  in  so  far  that  you  can  hardly  hear 
them  bark.  Small  roots  which  come  in  their  way  will  be 
gnawed  in  two;  soon  you  will  notice  a  dog  back  out,  hold- 
ing the  rabbit,  and  every  dog  that  is  near  will  want  his 
reward  by  helping  to  kill  it,  and  if  the  hunter  is  not  at 
hand  to  stop  this  performance,  the  rabbit  will  be  torn  to 
pieces  in  less  than  ten  seconds. 

This  is  the  great  disadvantage  in  hunting  rabbits  with  a 
pack  of  Dachshunds.  If  you  see  them  at  work  in  this 
way  for  the  first  time,  it  will  certainly  interest  you  greatly; 
but  when  accustomed  to  it,  you  will  pronounce  it  a  bad 
interruption  of  your  sport.  For  this  reason  I  say,  when 
you  want  to  hunt  rabbits  with  a  pack  of  dogs,  use  the 
Beagle,  for  he  does  not  possess  the  desire  for  digging,  as 
does  the  Dachshund. 

When  at  work  underground,  should  you  have  an  oppor- 
tunity of  preventing  one  or  two  dogs  from  entering,  you 
may  chain  them  and  take  them  miles  away,  but  the  minute 
they  are  at  liberty  they  will  run  back  and  finish  their 
work.  You  may  wish  to  call  them  back,  but  will  not  suc- 
ceed, and  you  will  find  that  your  control  over  your  dogs 
ends  right  here. 

Three  of  my  dogs  once  worked  two  days  and  a  night  at 
the  same  hole  before  they  returned  home.  There  is  one 


THE   DACHSHUND.  229 

good  thing  about  it,  and  that  is,  you  need  not  be  afraid  of 
their  getting  lost;  they  will  find  their  way  home  under  all 
circumstances.  I  have  had  them  on  grounds  ten  to  fifteen 
miles  from  my  home,  in  places  where  they  had  never 
been  before,  but  I  could  leave  them  there  to  finish  a  job  of 
digging  without  fear  of  losing  them.  They  always  return 
when  ready.  How  they  manage  it  is  a  mystery  to  me, 
unless  by  the  use  of  their  superior  scenting  powers  they  trace 
their  return.  I  have  had  hundreds  of  them,  but  never  lost 
a  single  one. 

As  to  their  value  for  tracking  wounded  deer,  I  can  not 
do  better  than  to  repeat  the  words  of  Mr.  N.  A.  Osgood, 
of  Battle  Creek,  Mich.,  who  owns  the  beautiful  bitch 
Gertie.  He  says  that  while  hunting  deer  in  Northern 
Michigan,  it  happened  that  several  were  wounded  and 
could  not  be  found;  among  them  the  largest  buck  they 
had  seen  during  their  stay.  He  was  tracked  by  all  the 
dogs  they  had  with  them,  but  all  gave  up  the  hunt  when 
the  tracks  run  to  a  stream.  After  all  the  other  dogs  were 
chained  up,  Gertie  trailed  the  buck  alone,  and  on  reaching 
the  stream  plunged  in,  swam  across,  hunted  up  the  lost 
trail  on  the  other  side,  and  soon  the  well-known  "kiff- 
kiff"  assured  Mr.  Osgood  of  Gertie's  success;  and  he  states 
that  no  more  wounded  deer  were  lost  after  that  time. 
Gertie,  of  course,  became  the  pet  of  the  camp. 

Another  gentleman,  after  returning  from  a  northern 
hunt,  wrote  me  that  his  eight-months-old  Dachshund 
exhibited  a  great  deal  of  pluck  by  holding  his  ground 
near  a  bear  after  several  other  dogs  left  the  field.  By 
steadily  barking  and  circling  around  the  bear,  he  held  its 
attention  until  the  hunter  approached  and  killed  it. 

If  you  wish  to  hunt  foxes  or  badgers,  the  Dachshund 
will  perform  the  same  work  for  you  here  as  he  does  for 
your  brother  sportsman  in  Europe. 

The  Dachshund  can  also  be  used  for  "treeing"  par- 
tridges (ruffed  grouse)  or  squirrels;  and  as  rat-killers  they 
can  not  be  excelled.  He  is  a  capital  companion  for  the 
man  who  enjoys  hunting  alone.  If  you  once  gain  his 


230  THE  AMERICAN   BOOK    OF   THE  DOG. 

friendship,  he  will  do  almost  anything  for  you.  I  can 
always  tell  what  game  my  dogs  are  pursuing  by  their  dif- 
ferent ways  of  giving  tongue,  and  have  become  so  accus- 
tomed to  their  ways  and  methods  of  hunting  that  I  have 
never  been  misled  by  them  but  once.  In  that  instance  they 
gave  the  bark  I  generally*  heard  when  a  squirrel  was  treed, 
only  fiercer.  On  walking  up  to  them  I  saw,  lying  fiat  on 
the  limb  of  an  oak-tree,  a  large  wildcat.  I  fired  at  her,  and 
had  the  satisfaction  of  seeing  her  fall  among  my  dogs,  who 
covered  her  at  once.  I  soon  discovered  that  she  was  far 
from  dead,  and  she  proved  as  lively  a  corpse  as  could  be 
imagined.  She  defended  what  life  was  left  in  her  valiantly. 
My  dogs  were  bleeding,  and  the  cat  kept  on  dealing  terrible 
blows  upon  them.  I  could  not  shoot,  for  I  would  have 
killed  my  dogs  also.  When  the  battle  was  at  its  height,  I 
noticed  one  dog,  which  weighed  only  eighteen  pounds, 
retire  slowly,  while  the  two  remaining  ones  were  attacking 
the  cat  as  furiously  as  ever.  All  at  once  the  little  dog  who 
had  retired  a  minute  before,  returned,  leaped  suddenly 
from  behind  on  the  cat's  back,  landing  his  teeth  in  the 
back  of  her  neck.  The  surprise  was  complete,  and  in  a 
second's  time  one  of  the  other  dogs  caught  hold  at  her 
throat,  and  the  fight  was  over— the  cat  killed.  The  little 
dogs  that  showed  so  much  courage  a  few  minutes  before 
were  all  in  terrible  condition,  and  as  weak  as  could  be  from 
loss  of  blood. 

As  a  watch  or  house  dog,  the  Dachshund  ranks  high, 
and  I  can  almost  pronounce  him  superior  to  any  other 
variety;  he  will  notice  the  slightest  noise — the  faintest 
footstep  about  the  house — and  will  give  alarm.  He  is  kind 
to  the  members  and  friends  of  the  family,  but  as  savage  as 
a  dog  can  be  to  the  intruder.  He  is  an  invaluable  assistant 
to  the  farmer,  who  can  sleep  safely  when  knowing  that  a 
Dachshund  watches  over  his  property — especially  his  poul- 
try— at  night.  No  mink,  'coon,  skunk,  or  other  vermin  will 
live  long  in  his  neighborhood;  this  little  dog  will  work  day 
and  night  to  kill  these  pests  that  nearly  always  infest 
farms  where  poultry  is  kept,  and  which  do  so  much  dam- 
age if  not  checked  by  a  good  dog. 


THE   DACHSHUND.  231 

.  Before  closing  this  chapter,  allow  me  to  mention  the  fol- 
lowing: It  has  been  tried  to  allow  a  Dachshund  to  run 
with  a  pack  of  Foxhounds,  but  was  always  given  up  as 
unsuccessful,  for  the  simple  reason  that  the  Dachshund 
will  not  stand  it  to  have  a  superior  over  him;  the  leader  of 
the  pack  and  the  Dachshund  will  soon  begin  to  quarrel, 
and  in  the  end  the  chances  are  that  the  small  dog  will  kill 
the  large  one. 

One  of  the  most  important  rules  for  keeping  a  lot  of 
Dachshunds  is  to  have  plenty  of  ground  for  them,  as  they 
do  not  thrive  well  in  too  close  confinement.  Have  the  yard 
divided  in,  say  three  or  four  apartments;  but  it  will  not  do 
to  have  the  fences  go  simply  down  close  to  the  ground,  for 
you  would  not  leave  them  ten  minutes  when  you  would 
find  that  the  dogs  had  dug  out,  and  were  enjoying  a  walk 
outside.  Lay  out  the  plan  for  your  building  and  yards, 
set  the  fence-posts  three  feet  into  the  ground,  dig  trenches 
for  a  foundation  (as  for  a  building)  two  feet  deep,  fill  this 
full  of  large  rocks,  cover  all  with  earth,  then  nail  your 
boards  on  the  posts.  Don't  use  any  boards  with  knot- 
holes, as  the  dogs  will  begin  to  gnaw  at  them,  and  in  time 
enlarge  them  so  that  they  can  go  through  them.  In  this 
way  I  succeeded  in  managing  my  dogs  all  right,  with  the 
exception  of  one,  who  beat  all  my  plans.  He  dug  a  hole 
down  under  the  rocks  and  up  on  the  other  side  in  about  an 
hour,  and  I  thought  it  advisable  to  take  him  to  my  house; 
for  when  the  rest  would  have  such  an  able  teacher  in  their 
midst,  I  could  see  no  end  of  trouble.  When  outside  he 
behaved  well  for  awhile,  but  soon  he  got  a  desire  for  a 
hunt  in  good  company;  so  he  commenced  to  dig  a  hole 
from  the  outside,  and  soon  liberated  all  the  dogs  kept  in 
that  yard. 

Before  I  was  obliged  to  build  a  stone  foundation,  I  drove 
sticks  into  the  ground,  which  were  set  as  close  together  as 
I  could  set  them.  This  plan  is  no  success,  as  the  dogs  will 
dig  all  the  earth  away  until  the  sticks  stand  free,  when  they 
are  easily  removed  by  them.  The  fence  must  be  at  least  five 
feet  high.  I  here  give  the  plan  of  what  I  consider  a  prac- 
tical kennel  for  the  breed : 


232  THE  AMERICAN   BOOK    OF   THE   DOG. 

Ground  required,  60x45  feet;  kennel  building  to  be 
15x60  feet.  Have  a  hallway  in  the  same,  say  4x60  feet; 
the  balance,  11  x  60  feet,  divide  into  four  apartments, 
which  will  give  each  apartment  the  size  of  11  x  15  feet. 
Separate  hall  from  rooms  by  wire  netting.  Lay  the  floors 
one  foot  from  ground,  so  as  not  to  take  too  much  dampness 
in  wet  weather;  and  the  floor  must  be  laid  slanting,  to  allow 
the  water  to  run  oif  when  scrubbing  the  floor.  Benches  to 
be  one. and  one-half  feet  from  floor,  but  not  under  the  win- 
dow, as  the  dogs  would  stand  up  and  gnaw  through  the 
sash. 

The  balance  of  your  ground  should  be  divided  into  four 
yards,  so  that  each  room  of  the  building  is  connected  with 
a  yard  15  x  30  feet.  The  rooms,  as  well  as  the  yards,  must 
be  so  arranged  that  the  dogs  in  one  can  not  see  those  in  the 
other,  which  is  done  by  erecting  tight  board  partitions  or 
fences  between  them.  The  outside  fence  may  be  of  wire 
netting;  this  will  improve  the  appearance  of  your  kennels. 
The  building  must  be  light  and  well  ventilated;  doors  to  be 
so  arranged  that  you  may  enter  your  grounds  from  all 
sides,  from  one  yard  to  the  other,  and  from  the  yards  to 
the  rooms.  If  wire  netting  be  too  expensive,  you  can,  of 
course,  build  board  fences  instead.  A  kennel  of  this 
description  affords  room  for  twelve  to  fifteen  dogs. 

It  is  not  advisable  to  keep  such  a  number  in  one  yard, 
for  they  will  not  agree,  and  you  must  separate  them  in 
order  to  keep  them  from  fighting;  if  you  don't,  you  will 
find  some  of  your  dogs  killed  before  long.  As  a  general 
rule,  two  stud  dogs  are  enemies,  and  their  hatred  knows  no 
bounds;  all  tricks  imaginable  are  brought  to  play  to  find 
some  means  of  coming  together,  and  if  successful,  one  dog 
will  be  destroyed. 

Bitches,  when  fighting,  seem  to  be  even  more  savage 
than  dogs.  When  two  of  these  are  fighting,  you  may  lift 
one  up,  and  are  sure  to  raise  the  other,  for  when  their  jaws 
close  on  each  other  they  hold  fast,  and  you  can  swing  both 
around  your  head  a  dozen  times,  still  they  will  hold  on  to 
each  other  firmly.  Separate  them  by  taking  a  firm  hold  at 


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DACHSUND  KENNEL. 


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DACHSUND  KENNEL-Ground  Plan. 

(233) 


Hand,   U-.lfnUll  it  I 


234         THE  AMERICAN  BOOK  OF  THE  DOG. 

their  necks  and  choking  them,  and  as  soon  as  loosened 
throw  one  over  the  fence.  These  two  will  never  after  be 
friends.  Often  you  may  keep  from  six  to  eight  dogs  in  one 
yard,  and  have  no  trouble.  When  admitting  a  strange  dog 
to  your  kennels,  you  must  first  find  out  in  what  yard  you 
can  locate  him,  and  be  careful  about  this  matter. 

It  would  be  cruelty  to  keep  these  dogs  closely  confined, 
for  their  instinct  drives  them  to  hunt,  and  you  should  give 
them,  as  frequently  as  possible,  a  chance  to  hunt,  or  to  run, 
at  least. 

Bitches  in  whelp  ought  to  be  at  liberty  to  go  where  they 
please.  My  kennels  were  located  in  the  heart  of  a  good 
game  country,  and  as  soon  as  I  opened  the  door  of  their 
yards,  my  dogs  had  the  chance  to  begin  hunting  at  once. 
Dachshund  kennels  should  be  only  in  such  localities. 
Rather  let  the  dogs  hunt  once  in  awhile  on  their  own 
account  than  deprive  them  of  their  liberty  for  too  long  a 
time. 

To  take  care  of  a  dozen  or  fiiteen  Dachshunds,  in  the 
proper  way,  is  all  a  man  is  able  to  do.  Half  of  the  day 
should  be  spent  in  working  them;  the  balance  is  necessary 
to  keep  the  kennels  in  good  order,  etc. 

My  bitch  Gretchen,  well  known  to  all  Dachshund 
breeders  in  the  country,  when  in  whelp,  would  hunt  until 
the  last  day  of  her  confinement.  Once  she  was  gone  two 
days,  and  I  had  no  idea  where  she  was;  her  time  to  whelp 
was  at  hand.  Half  an  hour  after  her  return  she  gave  birth 
to  the  first  puppy,  and  by  morning  a  family  of  six  had 
arrived.  She  was  an  excellent  mother;  but  on  the  second 
day  after  whelping  went  on  a  trip  again,  not  returning 
until  night.  All  her  puppies  were  brought  up  by  their 
mother,  and  all  proved  excellent  dogs. 

Nearly  all  Dachshunds  enjoy  robust  constitutions,  and 
you  will  not  be  troubled  much  by  diseases  among  them. 
You  must,  however,  keep  your  kennels  and  yards  scrupu- 
lously clean,  or  mange — the  terror  of  all  breeders — will  be 
admitted. 

To  keep  a  lot  of  dogs  in  good  health  depends  mainly  on 


THE   DACHSHUND.  235 

clean  kennels,  plenty  of  exercise,  and  on  their  being  prop- 
erly fed.  After  trying  different  methods  of  feeding,  I  pro- 
nounce the  following  the  best:  Raw  meat  is  excluded. 
Mutton  and  beef  scraps,  onions  and  beets,  and  seasoning 
of  salt,  are  boiled  until  the  meat  falls  off  the  bones;  this  is 
mixed  with  oatmeal,  corn-meal,  or  rice-mush,  bread,  or 
mashed  potatoes.  When  fed  warm  to  the  dogs  it  makes 
the  best  meal,  and  is  very  much  relished  by  them;  but  do 
not  give  the  same  thing  day  after  day.  One  day  mix  the 
broth  and  meat  with  bread;  the  next  day  with  oatmeal, 
and  so  on.  By  so  doing  you  will  not  see  your  dogs'  appe- 
tites fail,  and  they  will  always  be  in  first-class  condition- 
ready  for  the  bench  show  at  any  day  of  the  year.  Boiled 
liver  will  do  about  once  a  week,  as  it  acts  as  a  laxative. 
Pork,  given  occasionally,  is  all  right;  if  given  too  often  it 
will  produce  mange.  Feed  your  dogs  twice  a  day;  once  in 
the  morning,  and  the  second  meal  just  before  dark,  as  they 
will  then  be  much  quieter  during  the  night. 

Don't  allow  any  dishes  with  remnants  of  a  meal  to  stand 
around  your  kennel-yards;  wash  the  dishes  as  soon  as  the 
meal  is  over.  Your  kennels  and  kitchen  must  be  in  such 
condition  at  all  hours  of  the  day  that  you  need  not  be 
embarrassed  to  show  a  lady  through  them.  Give  from 
three  to  four  times  a  day  a  good  supply  of  fresh  water. 
Buttermilk  once  or  twice  a  week  is  recommended. 

I  am  opposed  to  chaining  dogs,  especially  Dachshunds, 
which,  thus  kept,  will  be  too  savage  and  musical. 

When  a  bitch  is  due  to  whelp,  you  will  notice,  as  a  gen- 
eral rule,  that  she  favors  a  certain  place;  and  I  always  let 
her  use  her  own  judgment  in  selecting  her  bed,  for  she  will 
then  feel  more  contented.  She  will  most  always  prefer  to 
whelp  on  the  bare  ground;  and  let  it  be  your  care  that  she 
is  not  molested  by  other  dogs.  Of  course  this  does  not 
apply  to  winter,  when  she  must  be  kept  in  a  heated  room. 

A  litter  of  puppies  will  afford  you  much  pleasure— as 
lively  as  crickets,  chasing  and  frolicking  all  day  long;  their 
odd  shape  and  intelligent  ways  will  make  them  favorites 
with  all.  When  six  weeks  old,  I  begin  to  feed  them  milk 


236  THE   AMERICAN   BOOK    OF   THE   DOG. 

and  bread,  and  continue  this  diet  for  about  a  month;  then 
give  them  same  food  as  the  old  dogs  eat. 

The  remedies  that  I  found  to  be  of  value  in  the  treat- 
ment of  a  few  diseases,  I  learned  by  years  of  practical 
experience  in  handling  dogs.  I  will  simply  tell  you  in 
what  ways  I  conquered  the  many  troubles  that  every  ken- 
nel-man is  subject  to. 

The  mange  will  appear  in  the  best-managed  kennels, 
and,  if  not  rooted  out,  will  be  the  cause  of  endless  trouble. 
Many  kennels  have  been  broken  up  because  the  disease 
could  not  be  eradicated.  When  a  dog  shows  the  disease,  I 
separate  him  from  the  rest,  and  he  has  to  make  his  home 
in  a  small  building  put  up  for  this  purpose,  which  I  call 
the  "  ash-box."  The  floor  is  covered  with  dry  wood  ashes. 
The  dog  is  now  bound  to  walk  on  ashes;  will  he  lay  down 
to  sleep,  he  will  sleep  on  ashes.  Kept  for  one  or  two  weeks 
in  this  place,  you  will  find  your  dog  well,  and  the  mange 
cured.  You  must  let  the  patient  have  exercise  every  day, 
and  it  will  be  good  to  wash  him  once  a  day;  but  be  sure 
that  he  does  not  come  too  close  to  your  healthy  dogs. 

I  will  tell  you  how  I  came  to  introduce  the  "ash-box." 
I  received  a  dog  from  Europe  that  was  covered  with  the 
disease.  All  remedies  that  I  tried  failed  to  cure  him — he 
was  in  a  horrible  condition;  and  after  all  remedies  had 
failed,  I  decided  to  shoot  him.  When  going  to  the  woods, 
intending  to  kill  the  poor  animal,  I  met  a  farmer,  whom  I 
told  of  my  intention,  and  who  requested  me  to  let  him 
have  the  dog,  to  which  I  consented.  I  had  not  heard  from 
the  man  or  the  dog  for  several  months,  when,  while  hunt- 
ing, I  came  near  his  home,  and  being  anxious  to  find  out 
how  the  dog  was  getting  along,  started  to  his  house.  I 
soon  saw  the  Dachshund  coming  toward  me,  and  was  sur- 
prised to  see  him  in  the  finest  possible  condition. 

On  inquiring  how  it  was  possible  to  have  cured  him,  the 
farmer  said  he  had  done  nothing  to  him  whatever  but  let 
him  run  wherever  he  wanted  to;  and  the  first  day  he  dug  a 
hole  in  a  pile  of  wood  ashes,  and  had  slept  there  ever 


THE  DACHSHUND.  237 

since.  It  was  at  once  plain  to  me  that  the  ashes  had  acted 
as  a  remedy  for  the  disease,  and  I  thereupon  built  an  ash- 
box.  With  it  I  have  cured  every  case  of  mange  that  has 
occurred  in  my  kennels  since,  and  friends  whom  I  have 
advised  to  use  it  on  their  dogs  report  the  same  results.  In 
severe  cases,  you  may  take  a  sponge  saturated  with  ben- 
zine and  apply  it  to  the  sores  before  placing  the  dog  on  his 
ash-bed. 

Worms. — Ask  your  druggist  for  the  common  brown 
worm -powder  which  is  given  to  children  (Semen  Cynce,  pul- 
ver.)',  mix  half  a  tea-spoonful  of  this  powder  in  your  pup- 
py' s  food,  and  you  will  be  surprised  what  an  amount  of 
worms  he  will  pass  the  next  day.  Repeat  this  once  a  day 
for  three  succeeding  days,  and  give  a  tea-spoonful  of  cas- 
tor-oil about  four  hours  after  each  dose  was  taken.  I 
know  of  no  better  remedy. 

For  distemper,  I  give  one  of  the  distemper-pills  adver- 
tised in  the  sporting  papers  to  such  dogs  as  are  over  seven 
or  eight  months  old.  I  find  it  to  be  of  good  service,  and 
have  cured  many  dogs  troubled  with  the  disease.  But 
when  a  litter  of  puppies,  say  from  two  to  three  months 
old,  are  attacked  with  distemper,  I  have  so  far  failed  to 
find  a  successful  remedy.  A  good  dry  bed  and  a  warm 
place  to  sleep  is  all  I  can  offer  them,  and  I  have  to  take 
my  chances  for  their  recovery. 

Fleas. — Take  a  piece  of  linen,  saturate  it  with  kerosene, 
rub  this  backward  against  the  dog's  hair,  and  you  will  see 
the  fleas  crawl  to  the  tip  of  the  hair  at  once  and  die.  Now 
wash  your  dog  with  soap  and  water,  and  when  dry  you 
will  not  find  a  single  flea  left  to  bother  him.  Sprinkle  the 
floor  of  your  kennels  about  once  a  week  with  kerosene. 

Lice. — Common  Persian  insect-powder,  rubbed  into  the 
hair,  and  the  use  of  comb,  brush,  soap,  and  water  is  what  I 
have  used  to  get  rid  of  these  pests. 

The  Dachshund,  if  well  bred,  will  not  need  any  train- 
ing, and  will  follow  his  natural  instinct  in  hunting.  Teach 
him  obedience  when  young,  and  give  him  enough  oppor- 


238  THE  AMERICAN    BOOK   OF  THE   DOG. 

tunities  to  hunt  and  develop.  The  best  method  I  have 
found,  is  in  building  an  artificial  fox-burrow  in  the  yard 
for  puppies,  made  of  rocks,  with  three  outlets  from  a 
larger  place  (kettle)  in  the  center.  Cover  this  with  earth 
and  brush.  Catch  a  rabbit  in  a  trap,  and  liberate  it  in  the 
presence  of  your  puppies.  A  puppy  three  or  four  months 
old  will  at  once  begin  to  chase  the  rabbit,  follow  it  through 
the  holes  or  brush,  and,  rest  assured,  will  never  forget  this 
lesson. 

Do  all  in  your  power  to  develop  courage,  the  main  char- 
acteristic of  the  breed.  Don't  punish  the  puppy  when  he 
has  done  an  act  you  dislike;  many  good  dogs  have  been 
spoiled  by  misapplied  punishment.  When  the  age  arrives 
at  which  he  should  be  used  on  game,  take  a  dog  whose 
work  satisfies  you,  and  the  puppy  you  wish  to  introduce  in 
field  work,  and  in  a  few  weeks'  practice  the  puppy  will  do 
his  work  satisfactorily. 

When  you  wish  to  buy  a  Dachshund,  be  sure  to  procure 
a  puppy.  Do  not  allow  everybody  to  take  care  of  him  and 
to  feed  him;  let  him  know  that  you  are  his  friend  and  mas- 
ter. Let  him  accompany  you  as  often  as  practicable.  As 
soon  as  you  notice  the  development  of  his  hunting  in- 
stincts, try  to  give  him  a  chance  to  catch  and  kill  a  rabbit; 
you  will  then  discover  that  your  dog  is  on  a  steady  lookout 
for  them,  and  in  a  short  time  will  master  all  the  tricks  of 
the  rabbit.  Before  he  is  fully  developed,  do  not  allow  him 
to  fight  a  fox  alone,  for  he  may  receive  a  severe  punishment 
at  the  beginning  of  his  career,  which  may  produce  bad 
effects  for  the  future.  If,  by  ill  management,  you  lose  the 
dog's  good-will  toward  you,  you  may  be  a  first-class 
breaker  of  other  breeds,  but  the  Dachshund's  stronghead- 
edness  you  will  never  be  able  to  s-ubdue;  while,  on  the  other 
hand,  by  kind  treatment,  you  may  bring  up  a  dog  which  is 
devoted  to  you,  and  may  make  a  useful  companion  of  him, 
without  any  trouble. 

The  same  rules  that  apply  to  the  breeding  of  other 
breeds  will  apply  to  the  Dachshund,  except  in  the  matter 
of  color.  In  this  breed  you  have  black  and  tans,  chestnut 


THE  DACHSHUND.  239 

and  tans,  fallow-red,  and  deep  red,  all  distinct  and  eligible 
colors;  and  you  may  cross,  for  instance,  a  black-and-tan 
bitch,  with  a  red  dog,  or  a  chestnut  and  tan  with  a  red  one; 
the  result  will  always  be  a  litter  of  puppies  showing  the 
above-mentioned  colors  distinct  and  true  to  type — never  a 
mixed  color,  such  as  a  black-and-tan  dog  showing  a  red 
spot  on  his  back,  etc.  I  have  bred  over  six  hundred  pup- 
pies, but  never  yet  saw  one  which  was  not  correctly  marked. 
I  have  bred  reds  to  reds  for  generations;  have  often  received 
a  litter  of  pure  reds;  but  you  can  not  depend  on  this  as  a 
rule,  for  in  the  fourth  or  fifth  generation  a  black-and-tan, 
or  a  chestnut-and-tan  puppy,  of  perfect  color  and  mark- 
ings, may  make  his  appearance. 

My  advice  is,  pay  no  attention  to  color,  but  attend 
strictly  to  the  other  and  more  important  qualities.  Don't 
cross  a  Hound  type  Dachshund  with  one  of  a  Terrier  type, 
as  you  can  not  expect  a  well-shaped  puppy  from  such  a 
cross.  The  broad,  deep  chest,  strong  limbs  and  crook,  good 
head  and  ears,  well  rounded  ribs,  and  long-stretched  body 
are  the  points  you  should  breed  for. 

As  the  paws  are  used  by  these  dogs  as  shovels,  I  may 
say  that,  in  order  to  get  the  correct  stock,  you  should  breed 
as  big  shovels  on  their  legs  as  possible.  Another  impor- 
tant point  to  look  to  is  the  size.  A  Dachshund  should  not 
stand  higher  at  shoulder  than  ten  and  one-half  or  eleven 
inches;  when  larger  they  are  too  large  to  enter  a  fox-hole, 
and  consequently  are  disqualified  for  the  purpose  nature 
has  intended  them  for. 

Many  specimens  are  overshot;  that  is,  the  teeth  on  the 
upper  jaw  stand  out  one-fourth  or  one-half  inch  farther 
than  those  of  the  lower  jaw.  Although  an  animal  with 
such  teeth  may  appear  to  have  the  most  beautiful  head 
imaginable,  he  should  be  disqualified  for  breeding  pur- 
poses. A  Dachshund  without  any  white  markings  is  pre- 
ferred to  one  which  has  such;  but  should  the  dog  otherwise 
be  perfect,  I  would  not  object  to  a  little  white  on  his  paws, 
chest,  or  under  throat. 


THE   BLOODHOUND. 


BY  J.    L.    WlNCHELL. 


Two  dogs  of  black  St.  Hubert  breed, 
Unmatched  for  courage,  breath,  and  speed, 
Fast  on  his  flying  traces  came, 
And  all  but  Avon  that  desperate  game. 

For  scarce  a  spear's  length  from  his  haunch, 

Vindictive  toiled  the  Bloodhound  staunch; 

Nor  nearer  might  the  dogs  attain, 

Nor  farther  might  the  quarry  strain. 

Thus  up  the  margin  of  the  lake, 

Between  the  precipice  and  brake, 

O'er  stock  and  rock,  their  race  they  take. 

—Scott,  in  "The  Lady  of  the  Lake." 

And  hark!  and  hark!  the  deep-mouthed  bark 

Comes  nigher  still,  and  nigher! 
Bursts  on  the  path  a  dark  Bloodhound; 
His  tawny  muzzle  tracked  the  ground, 

And  his  red  eye  shot  fire. 

— "Lay  of  the  Last  Minstrel  ' 

„.,  DDISON,  in  the  Spectator,  contends  that  the  English 
Bloodhound  is  a  descendant  from  Vulcan's  dogs. 


In  proof  of  his  statement  he  adds  this  bit  of  his- 
tory: "It  is  well  known  by  the  learned  that  there 
was  a  temple  on  Mount  ^Etna  dedicated  to  Yulcan,  which 
was  guarded  by  dogs  of  so  exquisite  a  smell,"  says  the  his- 
torian, "that  they  could  discern  whether  the  person  that 
came  thither  was  chaste  or  otherwise.  They  used  to  meet 
and  fawn  upon  such  as  were  chaste,  caressing  them  as 
friends  of  their  master,  Yulcan,  but  flew  at  those  that  were 
polluted,  and  never  ceased  barking  at  them  till  they  were 
driven  from  the  temple.  After  they  had  lived  there  in 
great  repute  for  several  years,  it  so  happened  that  one  of 
the  priests,  who  had  been  making  a  charitable  visit  to  a 

16  (241) 


242 


THE   AMERICAN   BOOK   OF   THE   DOG. 


widow  who  lived  on  a  promontory  of  Lilybeum,  returned 
home  late  in  the  evening.  The  dogs  flew  at  him  with  so 
much  fury  that  they  would  have  killed  him  if  his  breth- 
ren had  not  come  to  his  assistance,  upon  which  the  dogs 
were  all  of  them  hanged,  as  having  lost  their  original 
instinct."  If  this  had  taken  place  in  the  nineteenth  cent- 
ury, the  priest  would  have  been  hanged  and  the  dogs  would 


ENGLISH    BLOODHOUND— BONO. 
Owned  by  Edwin  Brough. 

have  won  collars  inscribed  with  words  of  commendation 
and  glory. 

Until  comparatively  recent  times  these  Hounds  were  only  to  be  found  in 
the  kennels  of  the  nobility,  and  even  now  well-bred  Bloodhounds  are  in  the 
hands  of  very  few  breeders,  and  are  all  closely  related. 

Jesse  says  the  earliest  mention  of  Bloodhounds  was  in  the  reign  of  Henry 
III.  The  breed  originated  from  the  Talbot,  which  was  brought  over  by 
William  the  Conqueror,  and  seems  to  have  been  very  similar  to  the  St.  Hubert, 


THE   ENGLISH   BLOODHOUND.  243 

a  breed  from  St.  Hubert's  Abbey,  in  Ardennes,  which,  according  to  the  old 
legends,  was  imported  by  St.  Hubert  from  the  south  of  Gaul  about  the  sixth 
century.  The  Talbot  was  the  popular  Hound  from  the  twelfth  to  the  sixteenth 
century,  but  became  extinct  about  the  end  of  the  last  century.  The  Southern 
Hound,  another  very  old  breed  showing  many  characteristics  of  the  Blood- 
hound, is  difficult  to  find  now  in  his  pure  state,  although  many  of  our  old 
packs  of  Harriers  are  descended  chiefly  from  him.  The  best  authorities  agree 
that  the  St.  Hubert,  Talbot,  and  Bloodhound  are  all  closely  allied.— Edwin 
Brough  in  "The  Century" 

In  the  twelfth  century,  Henry  III.  gave  the  following 
instruction: 

Whereas  Eduard,  the  king's  son,  has  intrusted  to  Robert  DeChenney,  his 
valet,  his  dogs  to  be  accustomed  to  blood,  it  is  commanded  to  all  foresters, 
woodmen,  and  other  bailiffs  and  servants  of  the  king's  forests,  and  keepers  of 
the  king's  warrens,  that  they  allow  the  said  Robert  to  enter  with  them  the 
king's  forests  and  warrens,  and  to  hunt  with  them,  and  to  take  the  king's 
game,  in  order  to  train  the  said  dogs.  This  to  hold  good  till  the  Feast  of  St. 
Michael  next  ensuing. 

Witness  the  king,  at  Woodstock,  20  Feb.,  40,  Henry  III., 

which  would  mean  February  20th,  A.D.  1256. 

We  can  have  no  better  authority  of  the  period  than  that 
of  the  statements  of  Doctor  Caius,  written  between  1555 
and  1572: 

The  greater  sort,  which  serve  to  hunt,  having  lippes  of  a  large  syze,  and 
eares  of  no  small  length,  doo  not  onely  chase  the  beast  while  it  liveth,  but  being 
dead  by  any  maner  of  casualtie,  make  recourse  to  the  place  where  it  lyeth, 
havyng  in  this  poynt  an  assured  and  infallible  guyde,  namely,  the  sent  and 
savour  of  the  blood  sprinckled  heere  and  there  upon  the  ground.  Thes ;  kinde 
of  dogges  pursue  the  deede  dooers  through  long  lanes,  crooked  reaches,  and 
weary  wayes,  without  wandring  away  out  of  the  limits  of  the  land  whereon 
these  desperate  purloyners  prepared  their  speedy  passage. 

Yea,  the  natures  of  these  dogges  is  such,  and  so  effectual  is  their  foresight, 
that  they  can  bewray,  separate,  and  pycke  them  out  from  among  an  infinite 
multitude  and  an  innumerable  company,  creep  they  never  so  far  into  the  thickest 
thronge;  they  will  find  him  out  notwithstanding  he  lye  hidden  in  wylde  woods, 
in  close  and  overgrowen  groves,  and  lurke  in  hollow  holes  apte  to  harbour 
such  ungracious  guestes.  Moreover,  although  they  should  pass  over  the  water, 
thinking  thereby  to  avoyde  the  pursuite  of  the  Hounds,  yet  will  not  these  dogges 
give  over  their  attempt,  but  presuming  to  swim  through  the  streame,  persevere 
in  their  pursuite;  and  when  they  be  arrived  and  gotten  the  further  bancke, 
they  hunt  up  and  downe,  to  and  fro  run  they,  from  place  to  place  shift  they, 
until  they  have  attained  to  that  plot  of  grounde  where  they  passed  over.  And 
this  is  their  practise,  if  perdie  they  can  not  at  ye  first  time  smelling  finde  out 
that  way  which  the  deede  dooers  tooke  to  escape .  For  they  will  not  pause  or 


244  THE  AMEKICAN   BOOK    OF   THE   DOG. 

breath  from  their  pursuite  until  such  tyme  as  they  bee  apprehended  and  taken 
which  committed  the  f acte. 

These  Houndes,  when  they  are  to  follow  such  fellowes  as  we  have  before 
rehersed,  use  not  that  liberty  to  raunge  at  will  which  they  have  otherwise  when 
they  are  in  game  (except  upon  necessary  occasion  whereon  dependeth  an  urgent 
and  effectual  perswasion  when  such  purloyners  make  speedy  way  in  flight),  but 
beyng  restrained  and  drawn  backe  from  running  at  random  with  the  leasse, 
the  end  whereof  the  owner  holding  in  his  hand  is  led,  guyded,  and  directed  with 
such  swiftnesse  and  slownesse  (whether  he  go  on  foote  or  whether  he  ryde  on 
horseback)  as  he  himselfe  in  haste  woulde  wishe  for  the  more  easie  apprehen- 
sion of  these  venturous  varlots.  In  the  borders  of  England  and  Scotland  (the 
often  and  accustomed  stealing  of  cattell  so  procuring),  these  kinde  of  dogges 
are  very  much  used,  and  they  are  taught  and  trained  up  first  of  all  to  hunt 
cattell,  as  well  of  the  smaller  as  of  the  greater  growth,  and  after wardes  (that 
qualitie  relinquished  and  left)  they  are  learned  to  pursue  such  pestilent  persons 
as  plant  theyre  pleasure  in  such  practises  of  purloyning  as  we  have  already 
declared. 

Two  or  three  centuries  ago  the  Bloodhound  was  much  used  in  England 
and  Scotland,  not  only  to  track  felons,  but  to  pursue  political  offenders.  They 
were  kept  at  one  time  in  great  numbers  on  the  border  of  Scotland,  and  not 
only  set  upon  the  trail  of  moss-troopers,  but  upon  fugitive  royalty.  Bruce  was 
repeatedly  tracked  by  these  dogs,  and  on  one  occasion  only  escaped  death  from 
their  jaws  by  wading  a  considerable  distance  up  a  brook,  and  thus  baffling  their 
scent.  A  sure  way  of  stopping  a  dog  was  to  spill  blood,  and  thus  destroy  its 
discriminating  powers.  A  captive  was  sometimes  sacrificed  on  such  occasions. 
A  story  of  William  Wallace  is  related,  as  follows: 

The  hero's  little  band  had  been  joined  by  an  ally,  a  dark,  savage,  suspi- 
cious character.  After  a  sharp  skirmish  at  Black  Erncside,  Wallace  was  forced 
to  retreat  with  only  a  section  of  his  followers.  The  English  pursued  with  bor- 
der Bloodhounds.  In  the  retreat  the  ally  tired,  or  appeared  to  do  so,  and  would 
go  no  farther.  Wallace  having  in  vain  argued  with  him,  in  hasty  anger  struck 
off  his  head,  and  continued  his  retreat.  The  English  came  up,  but  the  Hounds 
refused  to  leave  the  dead  body,  and  the  fugitive  escaped. 

The  Bloodhound  has,  for  many  centuries,  been  a  favorite 
in  England.  He  came  with  the  conquerors,  and  was  their 
faithful  follower  then  as  he  is  their  companion  now,  and 
some  of  the  old  English  lords  point  with  pride  to  their 
favorite  Hounds,  and  say:  "  This  same  strain  has  been  with 
our  family  since  the  Conquest."  Who  can  doubt  the 
ancient  ancestry  of  the  Bloodhound  when  we  note  his 
sedate  and  stately  bearing,  his  thoughtful,  dignified  man- 
ner. These  bespeak  at  once  his  ancient  lineage  and  his 
long-extended  pedigree,  which  is  written  on  his  wrinkled 
face  and  in  his  deep-set  eye. 


THE   ENGLISH   BLOODHOUND.  245 

They  were  used  by  Henry  VIII.  in  the  wars  in  France, 
by  Queen  Elizabeth  against  the  Irish,  and  by  the  Spaniards 
in  Mexico  and  Peru. 

At  a  still  later  time,  Bloodhounds  were  used  for  the  capture  of  sheep- 
stealers  and  others,  and  a  tax  was  often  levied  for  their  maintenance  for  this 
purpose. 

It  is  only  in  very  old  writings  that  we  find  Talbots,  or  white  Bloodhounds, 
mentioned.  The  "thick,  round  head"  Somerville  describes  would  certainly 
not  be  admired  now,  and  I  believe  was  never  an  accurate  description  of  the 
Bloodhound.  A  long,  narrow,  peaked  head  is  indicative  of  great  scenting 
powers,  and  large  flews  and  dewlap  of  a  deep,  mellow  voice. 

The  Bloodhound  has  a  much  more  delicate  nose  than  any  other  known 
breed  of  Hound,  and  can  puzzle  out  a  cold  scent  under  the  most  adverse  condi- 
tions. He  is  remarkable  for  adhering  to  the  scent  of  the  animal  on  which  he 
is  laid.  Some  years  since  a  pack  of  Staghounds  was  kept  in  Derbyshire,  and 
it  was  no  infrequent  occurrence  for  the  hunted  deer  to  take  refuge  among  a 
herd  in  some  park.  In  this  case  the  pack  was  whipped  off  and  a  couple  of 
Bloodhounds  laid  on,  who  stuck  to  the  hunted  deer  until  they  got  him  clear  of 
the  herd,  when  the  pack  was  again  laid  on. 

The  Bloodhound  is  easily  entered  to  hunt  anything,  and  with  a  strong  scent 
will  sometimes  absolutely  sit  down  on  his  haunches  for  a  few  seconds  and 
throw  tongue  in  sheer  delight.  The  note  is  deep,  mellow,  and  prolonged,  and 
may  be  heard  for  miles.  The  bay,  or  "  singing,"  of  a  kennel  of  Bloodhounds 
just  before  feeding  or  exercising  is  most  melodious. — Edwin  Brough  in  "The 
Century." 

We  make  use  of  the  delicate  faculty  of  sense  possessed  by  animals  to  aid 
us  in  the  chase,  and  are  so  accustomed  to  rely  upon  it  that  its  marvelousness 
escapes  attention;  but  we  have  no  pli37sical  faculty  so  exquisite  as  this.  .  . 
Everyone  who  has  gathered  wild  plants  knows  what  an  immense  variety  of 
odors  arise  from  the  scents  upon  the  ground;  this  is  the  first  complication. 
Next  upon  that  (though  we  can  not  detect  it)  are  traced  in  all  directions  differ- 
ent lines  of  scent  laid  down  by  the  passage  of  animals  and  men;  this  is  the 
second  complication.  "Well,  across  these  labyrinths  of  misleading  and  disturb- 
ing odors  the  dog  follows  the  one  scent  that  he  cares  for  at  the  time  (notwith- 
standing its  incessant  adulteration  by  mixtures)  as  easily  as  we  could  follow  a 
scarlet  thread  on  a  green  field.  If  he  were  only  sensible  to  the  one  scent  he 
followed,  the  marvel  would  be  much  reduced;  but  he  knows  many  different 
odors,  and  selects  among  them  the  one  that  attracts  him  at  the  time. — Hamer- 
ton  on  Animals. 

There  is  a  dog  in  the  Southern  States  called  the  Blood- 
hound, used  to  find  escaped  prisoners  and  desperadoes, 
which  is  somewhat  related,  probably,  to  the  English  Blood- 
hounds, and  there  are  well-trained  packs  of  them;  but,  as 
a  general  rule,  the  cross-bred  dog  is  a  treacherous  one. 


246  THE  AMERICAN   BOOK   OF  THE   DOG. 

They  are  so  well  trained  that  they  hardly  ever  attack  the 
man  pursued  if  he  remains  quiet  and  does  not  resist.  Not 
long  since  a  desperado  was  brought  to  a  stand  by  three  of 
these  dogs.  They  smelled  him  over,  but  were  perfectly 
friendly,  with  no  intention  of  harming  him,  until  he,  hear- 
ing his  pursuers  near  him,  turned  to  run.  In  an  instant  the 
Hounds  were  upon  him.  When  the  sheriff  arrived  with  his 
men,  they  found  two  dead  Hounds  covered  with  knife- 
wounds,  and  the  third  uninjured,  with  his  terrible  fangs 
fastened  on  the  throat  of  the  dying  criminal.  The  remarks 
of  the  sheriff  at  the  time  were  worth  pages  of  explanation: 
"  That  fool  just  flung  his  life  away  fighting  three  dogs 
with  a  knife.  Why  didn't  he  keep  still  ? " 

Following  is  the  description  and  value  of  points  of  the 
Bloodhound  as  adopted  by  the  American  Kennel  Club: 

Value.  Value. 

Head 20    Legs  and  feet 15 

Ears  and  eyes 10    Color  and  coat 10 

Flews 5     Stern 5 

Neck 5     Symmetry 10 

Shoulder  and  chest 10 

Back  and  back  ribs 10           Total 100 

The  head  (value  20)  is  the  peculiar  feature  of  this  breed, 
and  I  have  accordingly  estimated  it  at  a  very  high  rate.  In 
the  male  it  is  large  in  all  its  dimensions  but  width,  in  which 
there  is  a  remarkable  deficiency.  The  upper  surface  is 
domed,  ending  in  a  blunt  point  at  the  occiput;  but  the  brain 
case  is  not  developed  to  the  same  extent  as  the  jaws,  which 
are  very  long  and  wide  at  the  nostrils,  hollow  and  very  lean 
in  the  cheek,  and  notably  under  the  eyes.  The  brows  are 
moderately  prominent,  and  the  general  expression  of  the 
whole  head  is  very  grand  and  majestic.  The  skin  covering 
the  forehead  and  cheeks  is  wrinkled  in  a  remarkable  man- 
ner, wholly  unlike  any  other  dog.  These  points  are  not 
nearly  so  developed  in  the  bitch;  but  still  they  are  to  be 
demanded  in  the  same  proportionate  degree. 

Ears  and  eyes  (value  10). — The  ears  are  long  enough  to 
overlap  one  another  considerably  when  drawn  together  in 
front  of  the  nose;  the  ''leather"  should  be  very  thin,  and 


THE   ENGLISH   BLOODHOUND.  247 

should  hang  very  forward  arid  close  to  the  cheeks,  never 
showing  the  slightest  tendency  to  "prick;"  they  should 
be  covered  with  very  short,  soft,  silky  hair.  The  eyes  are 
generally  hazel,  rather  small,  and  deeply  sunk,  showing  the 
third  eyelid,  or  "haw,"  which  is  frequently,  but  not  always, 
of  a  deep  red  color;  this  redness  of  the  haw  is,  as  a  rule,  an 
indication  of  Bloodhound  cross  whenever  it  is  met  with, 
whether  in  the  Mastiff,  Gordon  Setter,  or  St.  Bernard, 
though  occasionally  I  have  met  with  it  in  breeds  in  which 
no  trace  of  the  Bloodhound  could  be  detected. 

The  flews  (value  5)  are  remarkably  long  and  pendent, 
sometimes  falling  fully  two  inches  below  the  angle  of  the 
mouth. 

The  neck  (value  5)  is  long,  so  as  to  enable  this  Hound  to 
drop  his  nose  to  the  ground  without  altering  his  pace.  In 
the  front  of  the  throat  there  is  a  considerable  dewlap. 

Chest  and  shoulders  (value  10). — The  chest  is  rather 
wide  than  deep,  but  in  all  cases  there  should  be  a  good 
girth;  shoulders  sloping  and  muscular. 

The  back  and  back  ribs  (value  10)  should  be  wide  and 
deep,  the  size  of  the  dog  necessitating  great  power  in  this 
department.  The  hips,  or  "couples,"  should  be  especially 
attended  to,  and  they  should  be  wide,  or  almost  ragged. 

Legs  and  feet  (value  15). — Many  Bloodhounds  are  very 
deficient  in  these  important  parts,  owing  to  confinement. 
The  legs  must  be  straight  and  muscular,  and  the  ankles  of 
full  size.  The  feet  also  are  often  flat,  but  they  should  be,  if 
possible,  round  and  cat-like. 

Color  and  coat  (value  10). — In  color  the  Bloodhound  is 
either  black-and-tan  or  tan  only,  as  is  the  case  with  all 
black-and-tan  breeds.  The  black  should  extend  to  the 
back,  the  sides,  top  of  the  neck,  and  top  of  the  head.  It  is 
seldom  a  pure  black,  but  more  or  less  mixed  with  the  tan, 
which  should  be  a  deep,  ricli  red.  There  should  be  little  or 
no  white.  A  deep  tawny,  or  lion  color,  is  also  coveted,  but 
seldom  found.  The  coat  should  be  short  and  hard  on  the 
body,  but  silky  on  the  ears  and  top  of  the  head. 

The  stern  (value  5)  is,  like  that  of  all  Hounds,  carried 


248  THE   AMERICAN   BOOK   OF   THE   DOG. 

gaily  in  a  gentle  curve,  but  should  not  be  raised  beyond  a 
right-angle  with  the  back. 

The  symmetry  (value  10)  of  the  Bloodhound,  as  regarded 
from  an  artistic  point  of  view,  should  be  examined  care- 
fully, and  valued  in  proportion  to  the  degree  in  which  it  is 
developed. 

People  generally  have  a  mistaken  idea  about  the  Blood- 
hound. They  look  upon  him  as  a  vicious  animal — one  that 
will  tear  you  to  pieces  the  moment  he  gets  to  you.  This  is 
not  the  case.  A  pure  English  Bloodhound  is  the  most  gen- 
tle dog  in  the  world.  If  he  is  laid  on  the  trail  of  a  man, 
and  overtakes  him,  all  the  man  has  to  do  is  to  stop  and  he 
will  not  be  harmed.  When  you  have  once  won  the  esteem 
of  a  Bloodhound,  he  is  your  friend  forever.  To  illustrate 
their  gentleness,  I  will  relate  an  incident:  A  short  time 
ago  the  Duchess  of  Ripple  was  lying  by  the  grate  in  my 
house.  My  little  boy  became  convinced  that  her  ears  were 
too  long,  and  getting  a  pair  of  shears,  he  got  astride  of  her 
and  began  trimming  them.  All  the  Duchess  did  was  to 
howl.  She  offered  the  lad  no  violence,  and  did  not  even  try 
to  run  away.  When  I  got  there,  I  found  the  boy  with  the 
shears  in  one  hand  and  the  bleeding  ear  in  the  other. 
Nothing  could  have  induced  her  to  injure  him. 

The  most  striking  characteristic  of  the  Bloodhound  is 
his  wonderful  scenting  power.  The  Duchess  will  follow  a 
trail  and  be  several  rods  away  from  it.  She  will  run  par- 
allel with  it  at  great  speed.  If  she  loses  a  trail,  she  will 
make  a  circuit  until  she  strikes  it  again,  and  away  she  will 
go.  Bloodhounds  could  be  trained  to  do  great  police  duty. 
Put  one  of  them  on  the  trail  of  a  thief,  and  he  would  not  be 
long  in  locating  the  culprit.  I  sold  one  to  a  man  in  Detroit. 
One  night  the  man' s  horse  got  out  of  the  barn  and  disap- 
peared. Hours  afterwaxd  the  dog  was  put  on  the  trail,  fol- 
lowed it  for  eight  miles,  finally  found  the  horse  in  a  pasture 
and  picked  it  out  from  among  many  other  horses. 

The  Bloodhound  is  in  every  sense  a  gentleman's  dog. 
When  you  have  once  won  his  esteem,  you  may  depend  upon 


THE   ENGLISH   BLOODHOUND.  249 

him  as  your  life-long  friend.  He  has  a  stately  bearing,  a 
thoughtful  and  dignified  air,  to  which  his  long  pedigree 
and  princely  birth  justly  entitle  him.  If  you  are  fond  of 
outdoor  exercise,  what  more  exciting  sport  can  be  had  than 
a  run,  or  witnessing  one,  with  these  dogs.  If  you  want  a 
new  sensation,  or  are  overworked,  try  it.  Come  out  into  the 
country,  start  away  some  early  morning,  a  couple  of  hours 


ENGLISH    BLOODHOUNDS— ROSEMARY   AND  DUCHESS   OF   RIPPLE. 
Owned  by  Mr.  J.  L.  Winchell,   Fairhaven,  Vermont. 

ahead  of  the  Hounds,  with  your  stopping-place  in  your 
mind;  then  choose  your  course,  so  you  may  enjoy  the  trail- 
ing of  the  Hounds  and  hear  their  deep  voices  resounding  in 
the  chase  as  you  sit  in  your  chosen  position  watching  them 
as  they  near  you,  see  them  carefully  casting  for  your  trail 
under  difficult  circumstances,  hear  their  deep,  bell-like 
notes  resounding  in  the  dark  forest  and  on  the  mountains, 
with  a  cry  unbroken.  The  music,  the  poetry  of  it,  as  it 


250  THE  AMERICAN   BOOK   OF  THE   DOG. 

rings  through  the  clear  air,  is  a  grand,  wild  concert;  now 
faintly  heard  in  low,  distant  murmurs  as  it  comes  floating 
over  the  low  hills,  then  louder,  swelling,  and  finally  burst- 
ing in  a  grand  chorus  as  they  near  you.  Once  heard,  it 
can  never  be  forgotten. 

"Why  is  this  dog  called  the  Bloodhound?"  many  ask. 
The  name  is  a  misnomer.  He  is  not  blood-thirsty,  more  than 
any  other  dog;  but  it  is  owing  to  the  peculiar  instinct  which 
he  probably  acquired  in  tracking  wounded  game. 

Could  a  pack  of  Bloodhounds  be  trained  so  as  to  enter 
into  the  spirit  of  the  chase  on  the  stage,  could  they  be  seen 
in  their  excitement,  heard  in  their  full  cry,  what  a  madden- 
ing encore  they  would  receive. 

When  we  consider  the  marvelous  attributes  of  the  Bloodhound,  it  is  diffi- 
cult to  understand  how  it  could  possibly  have  gone  almost  out  of  use,  as  it 
evidently  did.  Probably  this  decadence  began  when  he  was  no  longer  required 
in  border  warfare.  As  a  matter  of  course,  the  breed  became  scarce,  and 
was  only  kept  up  by  old  families  who  were  loath  to  part  from  their  ancient  tra- 
ditions, or  who  had  deer  parks  and  used  Bloodhounds  for  tracking  wounded 
deer.  Fortunately,  dog  shows  came  to  the  rescue,  or  the  breed  would  probably 
have,  by  this  time,  become  extinct. 

I  fear  that  dog  shows,  and  their  attendant  changes  of  fashion,  have  done  an 
immense  amount  of  harm  to  some  of  our  most  useful  breeds;  but  luckily  the 
Bloodhound  has  been  estimated  most  highly  for  his  best  and  most  character- 
istic qualities,  and  the  long,  narrow,  peaked  head,  always  associated  with 
special  scenting  powers,  and  the  long  ears  and  immense  dewlap,  indicative  of 
voice,  are  much  more  common  now  than  ever  before.  The  chief  alteration  has 
been  in  the  lines  denoting  speed,  and  we  now  have  a  much  faster  Hound  than 
in  the  moss-trooping  days;  in  fact,  many  Bloodhounds  are  quite  as  fast  as 
average  Foxhounds. 

We  have,  however,  been  intensifying  the  type  and  formation  indicative  of 
the  special  properties  inherent  in  him,  and  I  am  satisfied  that  with  a  reasonable 
amount  of  careful  training  we  may  obtain  much  more  wonderful  results  in  the 
tracking  of  criminals  than  have  ever  been  attained  before.  We  have  now  few 
Hounds  trained  to  hunt  the  "clean  boot  ' — i.  e.,  merely  the  natural  sctmt  of  a 
man  throuiih  his  boots — and  the  very  few  Bloodhound  owners  who  attempt 
anything  of  this  kind  do  not  devote  sufficient  time  to  the  pursuit  to  bring 
their  Hounds  to  even  a  moderate  degree  of  excellence. 

I  am  convinced  that  the  time  has  now  come  when  we  may  hope  to  see  this 
matter  taken  up  in  a  thoroughly  intelligent  manner;  and  if  this  is  done,  we 
shall,  in  a  few  years,  be  quite  unable  to  understand  why  the  Bloodhound  was 
ever  allowed  to  fall  into  disuse  for  this  purpose.  Each  succeeding  generation  of 
trained  Hounds  must  become  much  more  proficient  than  the  last  one;  and  when 
they  have  come  into  general  use,  the  deterrent  effect  on  crime  will  be  incalcula- 


THE   ENGLISH    BLOODHOUND.  251 

ble.    Such  detectives  would  be  incapable  of  accepting  a  bribe,  and  would  often 
discover  criminals  when  other  means  could  only  end  in    failure. — Edwin 

Brough  in  ' '  The  Century. " 

The  Bloodhound  stands  alone  among  all  the  canine  race 
in  his  fondness  for  hunting  the  footsteps  of  entire  stran- 
gers. Almost  any  dog  will  follow  the  footsteps  of  his  master 
or  of  one  whom  he  knows,  but  a  Bloodhound  will  follow 
those  of  a  stranger  with  all  the  eagerness  of  an  old,  trained 
Foxhound  in  close  pursuit.  If  he  is  first  trained  on  man, 
he  will  follow  the  trail  of  any  animal,  for  the  trail  left  by 
man  is  less  than  that  of  any  other.  Bloodhounds  kept  for 
trailing  man  should  be  kept  by  themselves,  and  great  care 
should  be  exercised  in  keeping  their  quarters  clean.  They 
should  have  their  daily  runs;  their  feed  should  be  always 
sweet  and  fresh.  A  small  piece  of  decayed  meat  will  render 
a  Hound  almost  useless  for  hours;  and  in  training  puppies 
it  is  best  that  the  attendant  should  be  a  stranger  to  them. 
Mr.  Edwin  Brough  describes  the  method  by  which  he  has 
trained  his  so  successfully,  for  the  last  twenty  years,  in 
the  following  words.  Nothing  more  could  be  added,  only 
that  if  you  wish  them  to  show  great  proficiency  you  must 
give  them  abundant  practice: 

One  method  of  training  advocated  is  to  rub  the  boots  of  the  man  who  runs 
for  the  Hounds  with  blood,  and  to  discontinue  this  gradually  as  the  Hounds 
become  more  expert.  This  is  a  bad  plan.  It  is  quite  easy  to  enter  Blood- 
hounds without  any  artificial  aid  of  this  kind,  and  it  is  much  more  difficult  to 
get  them  to  run  man  after  they  have  become  accustomed  to  a  stronger  scent.  I 
consider  that  Hounds  work  better  when  entered  to  one  particular  scent,  and 
kept  to  that  only;  and  I  never  allow  my  Hounds  to  hunt  anything  but  the 
clean  boot.  You  can  scarcely  commence  too  early  to  teach  puppies  to  hunt 
the  clean  boot.  I  often  give  mine  their  first  lessons  when  three  or  four  months 
old.  For  the  first  few  times  I  find  it  best  to  let  them  run  someone  they  know; 
afterward  it  does  not  matter  how  often  the  runner  is  changed.  He  should 
caress  and  make  much  of  the  puppies,  and  then  let  them  see  him  start  away, 
but  should  get  out  of  their  sight  as  quickly  as  possible,  and  run  say  two  hun- 
dred yards  up-wind,  on  grass  land,  in  a  straight  line,  and  then  hide  himself. 

The  man  who  hunts  the  puppies  should  know  the  exact  line  taken,  and 
take  the  puppies  over  it,  trying  to  encourage  them  to  hunt  until  they  get  to 
their  man,  who  should  always  reward  them  with  a  bit  of  meat.  This  may 
have  to  be  repeated  several  times  before  they  really  get  their  heads  down;  but 
when  they  have  once  begun  to  hunt,  they  improve  rapidly,  and  take  great 
delight  in  the  quest.  Everything  should  be  made  as  easy  as  possible  at  first, 


252  THE   AMERICAN   BOOK    OF  THE   DOG. 

and  the  difficulties  increased  gradually.  This  may  be  done  by  having  the  line 
crossed  by  others,  by  increasing  the  time  before  the  puppies  are  laid  on,  or  by 
crossing  roads,  etc.  When  the  puppies  get  old  enough,  they  should  be  taught 
to  jump  boldly,  and  to  swim  brooks  where  necessary.  When  the  young  Hounds 
have  begun  to  run  fairly  well,  it  will  be  found  useful  to  let  the  runner  carry  a 
bundle  of  sticks,  two  feet  or  two  feet  six  inches  long,  pointed  at  one  end,  and 
with  a  piece  of  white  paper  stuck  in  a  cleft  at  the  other  end.  When  he  makes 
a  turn  or  crosses  a  fence,  he  should  put  one  of  these  sticks  down,  and  incline  it 
in  the  direction  he  is  going  to  take  next.  This  will  give  the  person  hunting 
the  Hounds  some  idea  of  the  correctness  of  their  work,  though  the  best  Hounds 
do  not  always  run  the  nearest  to  the  line.  On  a  good  scenting  day  I  have  seen 
Hounds  running  hard  fifty  yards  or  more  to  the  leeward  of  the  line  taken. 
These  sticks  should  be  taken  up  when  done  with,  or  they  may  be  found  mis- 
leading on  some  other  occasion. 

The  Hounds  will  soon  learn  to  cast  themselves,  or  try  back,  if  they  over- 
run the  line,  and  should  never  receive  any  assistance  as  long  as  they  continue 
working  on  their  own  account.  It  is  most  important  that  they  should  become 
quite  self-reliant.  The  line  should  be  varied  as  much  as  possible.  It  is  not 
well  to  run  Hounds  over  exactly  the  same  course  they  have  been  hunted  over 
on  some  previous  occasion.  If  some  Hounds  are  much  slower  than  the  rest,  it 
is  best  to  hunt  them  by  themselves,  or  they  may  get  to  "  score  to  cry,"  as  the 
old  writers  say,  instead  of  patiently  working  out  the  line  each  for  himself. 

It  is  a  great  advantage  to  get  Hounds  accustomed  to  strange  sights  and 
noises.  If  a  Hound  is  intended  to  be  brought  to  such  a  pitch  of  excellence  as 
will  enable  him  to  be  used  in  thoroughfares,  he  should  be  brought  up  in  a  town 
and  see  as  much  bustle  as  possible.  If  he  is  only  intended  to  be  used  in  open 
country,  with  occasional  bits  of  road  work,  this  is  not  necessary. 

Bloodhounds  give  tongue  freely  when  hunting  any  wild  animal,  but  many 
Hounds  run  perfectly  mute  when  hunting  man.  This  is,  however,  very  much 
a  matter  of  breeding.  Some  strains  run  man  without  giving  tongue  at  all, 
others  are  very  musical. 

Anyone  who  is  fond  of  seeing  Hounds  work,  but  who  has  only  a  limited 
amount  of  country  to  hunt  over,  will  find  an  immense  amount  of  pleasure  in 
hunting  man  with  one  or  two  couples  of  Bloodhounds.  In  such  circumstances 
it  is  a  great  convenience  to  be  able  to  select  the  exact  course,  which  could  not 
be  done  if  hunting  some  animal;  and  a  great  variety  of  different  runs  can  be 
contrived  over  limited  ground.  I  know  nothing  more  delightful  than  to  see 
Bloodhounds  working  out  a  scent  carefully  under  varying  circumstances,  and 
to  hear  their  sonorous,  deep,  bell-like  note.  There  is  not,  of  course,  the  slight- 
est danger  to  the  runner,  even  if  the  Hounds  have  never  seen  him  before. 
When  they  have  come  up  and  sniffed  him  over,  they  manifest  no  further  inter- 
est in  him. 

The  head  is  the  chief  characteristic  of  the  breed,  and  should  be  estimated 
highly;  the  skull  is  long  (in  good  dogs  it  generally  exceeds  eleven  inches  in 
length),  narrow,  and  very  much  peaked;  muzzle  deep  and  square;  ears  thin, 
long,  and  pendulous,  set  on  low,  hanging  close  to  the  face,  and  curled  upon 
themselves;  eyes  hazel-colored,  deep  set,  with  triangular-shaped  lids,  showing 


THE   ENGLISH   BLOODHOUND. 


253 


the  haw.  Flews  long,  thin,  and  pendulous,  the  upper  lip  overhanging  the 
lower  one.  Neck  long,  with  great  quantity  of  loose  skin,  or  dewlap.  The 
skin  of  the  face  should  be  loose  and  wrinkled,  and  when  the  nose  is  depressed 
a  roll  of  loose  skin  should  be  seen  on  the  forehead.  The  coat  should  be  close, 
but  rather  silky  in  texture,  and  the  skin  thin.  Height,  dogs  from  twenty-five 
to  twenty-seven  inches  at  shoulder,  bitches  rather  less.  Shoulders  deep  and 
sloping,  brisket  particularly  well  let  down,  forming  a  sort  of  keel  between  the 
fore  legs;  loins  broad  and  muscular;  powerful,  muscular"  thighs  and  second 
thighs;  good  legs  and  round  feet,  hocks  well  bent;  tapering,  lashing  stern. 

The  color  most  generally  admired  now  is  black  and  tan,  the  legs,  feet,  and 
all  or  part  of  the  face  being  a  tan-color,  and  the  back  and  sides  and  the  upper 


ENGLISH    BLOODHOUND    PUPPIES. 
Owned  by  Mr.  J.  L.  Winchell,  Fairhaven,  Vermont. 

part  of  neck  and  stern  black.  There  is  generally  a  white  star  on  the  chest,  and 
a  little  white  on  the  feet  is  admissible.  Some  fifteen  years  since,  it  was  not  at 
all  uncommon  to  see  white  flecks  on  the  back— making  the  Hound  look  as  if  he 
had  been  out  in  a  snow-storm — and  a  white  tip  to  stern.  The  former  pecul- 
iarity seems,  unfortunately,  to  be  quite  lost,  but  the  white  tip  to  stern  is  still 
sometimes  met  with.  A  deep  red  with  tan  markings  is  common;  but  to  my 
mind,  the  most  beautiful  color  of  all  is  a  tawny,  more  or  less  mixed  with  black 
on  the  back.  It  is,  however,  rare,  and  I  only  know  one  or  two  Hounds  of  this 
color.  The  bitch  is  somewhat  smaller  than  the  dog,  and  in  her  the  head  prop- 
erties are  not  so  fully  developed. 


254  THE  AMERICAN   BOOK   OF  THE   DOG. 

The  illustrations  are  from  well-known  show  dogs,  and 
are  the  best  type  of  the  Bloodhound  of  to-day.  That  of 
the  three  puppies  is  from  a  photograph  taken  on  the 
day  they  were  two  months  old.  They  are  the  average  ones 
of  a  litter  of  eleven  which  the  dam  raised  without  any 
assistance.  The  sire  was  Burgho,  dam  Rosemary.  They 
are  of  the  St.  Hubert  type,  spoken  of  by  Sir  Walter  Scott. 
They  are  darker  in  color  and  generally  larger  and  more 
powerful  than  most  of  the  breed.  One  of  this  litter,  at  six 
months  old,  weighed  over  eighty  pounds,  had  ears  measur- 
ing twenty-six  inches,  and  his  head  was  twelve  inches  long. 
Champion  Barnaby  is  one  of  the  best  all-round  Blood- 
hounds of  England;  his  sire  is  Champion  Nobleman,  dam 
Brevity.  The  red  and  tan  Duchess  of  Ripple,  and  the 
black  and  tan  Rosemary,  are  proving  themselves  two  of  the 
best  breeding  bitches  of  England.  Duchess  is  a  great 
prize-winner,  besides  being  the  dam  (6f  more  and  greater 
show  dogs  than  any  Bloodhound  living.  Her  sire  was  Tim- 
bush  II. ,  dam  Patti.  Rosemary,  her  companion,  has  prob- 
ably more  of  the  Southern  or  St.  Hubert  blood  than  any 
Bloodhound  known.  The  illustration  of  Bono  is  from  a 
photograph  taken  when  he  was  twelve  months  old.  He  is 
strong  in  all  Bloodhound  points,  but  is  particularly  grand 
in  his  head.  He  has  been  shown  at  all  the  principal  bench 
shows  in  the  last  year,  and  never  beaten;  besides  winning 
the  principal  prize  at  the  greatest  show  at  Manchester, 
England,  the  challenge  cup  for  the  best  sporting  dog, 
unanimously  awarded  by  all  the  judges  of  the  different 
classes.  A  wonderful  record  for  a  dog  of  his  age.  I  doubt 
if  there  is  a  dog  in  England  that  can  score  as  many  points. 
His  dam  was  the  Duchess  of  Ripple.  The  first  kennel  was 
exhibited  here  by  Mr.  Edwin  Brough  at  the  Westminster 
Kennel  Club's  Show,  in  New  York,  in  February,  1888. 
In  it  were  Champion  Barnaby  and  Duchess  of  Ripple. 
Previous  to  this  time,  I  can  safely  say  there  was  not  a  fair 
specimen  ever  exhibited  at  any  of  our  shows.  Probably 
the  reason  of  their  not  being  introduced  here  before  was 
their  scarcity  and  the  price  they  commanded  in  England. 


THE   ENGLISH   BLOODHOUND.  255 

Within  the  last  two  years,  we  have  imported,  bred,  and 
sold  over  seventy  Bloodhounds  in  America,  and  have  ex- 
hibited a  kennel  of  them  at  our  principal  shows  during 
that  time.  They  have  gone  to  California,  Mexico,  and 
Texas,  and  in  the  East  have  been  taken  principally  by 
ladies  as  companions,  and  have  become  a  fashionable  house- 
hold dog. 

To  be  a  successful  breeder  means  more  than  the  rearing 
of  many  dogs.  There  would  have  been  no  Maud  S. ,  Sunol, 
or  Axtell  had  their  breeders  followed  the  hap -hazard  style 
of  mating  practiced  by  many  dog  fanciers.  There  is  as 
much  science  in  the  production  of  a  high-class  dog  as  in  the 
breeding  of  a  great  trotter.  Strains  properly  united  pro- 
duce champions  as  well  as  great  trotters.  The  rearing  of 
healthy  puppies  depends  largely  upon  the  sire  and  dam, 
both  before  and  after  breeding.  Their  age,  hereditary  con- 
stitutions, and  the  frequency  of  breeding  of  the  dam  must 
all  be  looked  to  in  order  to  obtain  the  best  results.  Once  a 
year  is  as  often  as  any  bitch  should  be  bred. 

My  aim  is  to  keep  my  dogs  in  the  most  perfect  show 
condition  at  all  times — more  particularly  my  stud  dogs  and 
breeding  bitches.  They  have  their  morning  lesson  on  the 
trail,  for  an  hour  or  so,  besides  a  large  yard  connected  with 
their  kennels  supplied  with  running  water.  They  are  well 
groomed  every  day,  and  the  kennels  are  kept  clean  at  all 
times. 

After  the  bitch  has  been  bred,  I  make  no  change  in  her 
treatment  for  a  month  or  so;  then  I  begin  gradually  to 
reduce  the  amount  of  her  exercise,  and  to  feed  more  liber- 
ally, with  a  greater  variety  of  food.  I  probably  feed  more 
meat  at  all  times  than  most  breeders.  The  bitch  is  trans- 
ferred to  her  temporary  whelping  quarters  long  enough 
before  the  time  she  is  to  whelp  to  have  her  feel  at  home 
there.  I  have  ^her  keeper,  or  someone  whom  she  is  famil- 
iar with,  remain  with  her  while  whelping,  in  order  that  he 
may  render  her  or  her  puppies  any  assistance  necessary. 

Most  bitches  are  very  sensitive  at  this  period,  and  must 


256 


THE   AMERICAN   BOOK   OF   THE  DOG. 


be  treated  with  great  gentleness.  None  but  those  she  is 
familiar  with  should  be  allowed  near  her  during  the  first 
week  or  so  after  whelping.  When  the  puppies  are  about 
two  days  old,  she  may  be  transferred  to  her  permanent 
kennels,  after  she  has  been  cleaned  and  groomed.  She 
will  probably  not  take  exercise  enough  for  her  health, 


ENGLISH    BLOODHOUND— CHAMPION    BARNABV. 
Owned  by  Edwin  Brough. 

unless  taken  out  for  a  walk  two  or  three  times  a  day. 
Keep  her  warm;  do  not  let  her  become  chilled.  Feed  her 
often,  anything  she  craves —boiled  mutton,  beef  broth, 
with  bread  and  rice,  buttermilk,  etc.  Keep  fresh  water 
always  by  her.  Remove  any  remnant  of  her  food  when 
she  is  through  eating.  I  have  raised  eleven  and  twelve 
puppies,  respectively,  in  two  different  litters,  from  Rose- 
mary by  this  method  of  treatment.  At  five  weeks  old,  so 


THE   ENGLISH   BLOODHOUND.  257 

even  a  lot  were  they  that  one  could  scarcely  be  told  from 
another. 

When  I  commenced  feeding  the  puppies,  which  was 
when  they  were  between  four  and  live  weeks  old,  they  were 
fed  on  nearly  the  same  food  I  had  been  giving  the  dam; 
but  they  were  fed  four  or  five  times  a  day,  the  keeper 
always  remaining  with  them  until  they  were  through  eat- 
ing, so  as  to  encourage  the  weaker  ones  and  restrain  the 
stronger  ones  from  imposing  on  the  others.  Their  dishes 
were  always  removed  and  cleaned  as  soon  as  they  were 
through  eating.  The  smaller  and  weaker  puppies  should 
be  given  codliver-oil  twice  a  day. 

It  is  a  well-known  fact  that  more  puppies  die  from 
worms  than  from  any  other  cause.  My  remedy  for  this  is 
the  juice  of  pumpkin-seeds  given  with  their  food,  and  as 
a  preventative,  charcoal  or  buttermilk. 

Exercise  is  most  important  for  puppies.  They  should  always  be  either 
sleeping  or  running  about,  except  when  eating.  If  the  weather  is  wet  or  cold, 
they  should  have  a  roomy  place,  under  cover,  to  run  about  in,  with  large  bones 
to  pick,  or  some  other  amusement.  The  bone-picking  is  necessary  to  keep  the 
teeth  in  good  order. 

When  two  or  three  months  old,  I  take  my  puppies  out  to  exercise  in  a  field, 
and  as  soon  as  they  have  become  pretty  handy,  on  the  road  for  a  few  times, 
with  a  lad  to  whip  in;  and  then  they  go  out  for  an  hour's  exercise  daily  with 
the  other  Hounds.  When  five  or  six  months  old,  they  should  be  under  nearly 
as  good  command  as  the  old  Hounds.  If  taught  to  lead  at  this  age  it  is  much 
less  troublesome  than  when  it  has  been  left  till  they  are  nearly  full  grown. 
With  some  puppies  this  is  easy  to  accomplish;  others  throw  themselves  about 
and  are  obstinate,  but  soon  resign  themselves  to  their  fate  if  handled  quietly. 

If  a  puppy  declines  to  budge,  it  is  a  mistake  to  pull  him  about  forcibly. 
Wait  until  he  decides  to  move,  and  then  let  him  go  in  the  direction  he  prefers. 
He  will  soon  get  accustomed  to  restraint,  and  in  a  few  days  will  allow  you  to 
choose  the  road.  If  he  then  pulls  unpleasantly,  he  should  be  taught,  by  a  few 
taps  on  the  nose  with  a  switch,  to  walk  soberly  at  your  side  without  straining 
at  the  chain. 

PREPARATION  FOR  THE  SHOW  BENCH. 

In  a  properly  kept  kennel  the  dogs  will  always  be  in 
good  show  condition.  But  if  they  are  covered  with  skin 
diseases,  if  alive  with  vermin,  or  if  they  have  been  kept  in 
dirty  quarters,  they  will  need  a  great  deal  of  preparation  to 
fit  them  for  the  show  bench.  Your  kennel  can  not  be  a 

17 


258  THE   AMERICAN   BOOK    OF   THE  DOG. 

success  unless  you  breed  with  an  object  in  view.  If  you 
breed  good  dogs,  the  next  consideration  is  that  they  shall 
be  well  kept.  A  good  kennel-man  is  as  rare  as  a  good 
breeder. 

In  preparing  dogs  for  the  show  bench,  one  of  the  most 
important  considerations  is  that  they  shall  be  well  broken 
to  the  chain  and  shall  not  be  afraid  of  strangers.  Much 
depends  on  the  way  a  dog  appears  in  the  ring,  before  the 
judge.  The  number  of  extra  pounds  of  flesh  which  you 
may  crowd  on  the  dog  will  not  win  the  prize  with  a  good 
judge. 

He  should  be  given  a  gentle  run  or  walk  twice  a  day, 
much  as  has  been  his  habit,  and  on  his  return  he  should  be 
groomed  and  given  dry  sleeping  quarters.  We  often  hear 
this  old  adage,  "  A  good  grooming  is  better  for  a  horse  than 
a  feeding,"  and  it  is  equally  applicable  to  a  dog.  His  gen- 
eral appearance  will  depend  very  much  on  the  grooming  he 
gets.  Use  nothing  that  will  irritate  the  skin.  N  ever  exhibit 
puppies  unless  you  are  going  out  of  the  business.  You  may 
escape  distemper  once,  but  the  people  who  may  possibly  buy 
your  puppies  may  not  be  so  fortunate.  In  shipping  to  the 
show,  it  is  better  to  go  with  your  dogs  yourself,  or  send  a 
man,  to  see  that  they  get  there  safely,  and  also  to  take  them 
into  the  ring.  Do  not  consider  your  kennels  well  kept 
unless  your  dogs  are  always  in  condition  for  the  show 
bench. 

Nature  has  evidently  intended  the  Bloodhound  as  a  com- 
panion, a  guardian,  a  household  pet.  The  difficulty  that 
has  been  experienced  in  England  in  rearing  them  does  not 
exist  here.  The  change  in  climate,  food,  and  surroundings 
seems  to  have  infused  new  life  into  the  breed;  and  a  Blood- 
hound bitch  that  I  received  from  England  in  whelp,  and 
from  whom  I  was  unable  to  raise  more  than  three  or  four 
puppies  without  foster-mothers,  after  the  second  or  third 
litter  here  raised  eight  to  twelve.  I  have  no  difficulty  now 
in  rearing  as  many  puppies  from  my  Bloodhounds  as  from 
my  Mastiffs. 


THE   ENGLISH   BLOODHOUND. 


259 


The  breeders  and  trainers  of  the  Bloodhound,  both  here 
and  in  England,  have  always  had  one  object  in  view, 
namely,  the  improvement  of  his  natural  scenting  powers; 
and  most  admirably  have  they  succeeded.  Americans  have 
the  credit  of  knowing  a  good  thing  when  they  see  it,  and  I 
have  no  doubt,  therefore,  that  the  Bloodhound  will  become 
as  great  a  favorite  here  as  he  is  in  England. 


THE  RUSSIAN  WOLFHOUND,  OR  BARZOI. 


BY  WILLIAM  WADE. 


IN  beginning  an  article  on  this  breed,  the  question  of  a 
by-stander,  "Why,  what  do  you  know  about  that 
breed  T'  is  most  pertinent.  I  really  do  not  know 
anything  about  them  in  the  sense  that  a  writer  on 
other  breeds  is  supposed  to  know  of  the  breed  he  has  under 
consideration;  but  the  consolation  in  this  case  is  that,  little 
as  I  know,  nobody  else  knows  much  more.  The  breed  has 
never  been,  in  this  country  or  in  England,  a  regularly  rec- 
ognized one,  with  points  and  characteristics  well  defined 
and  authoritatively  established.  It  may  be  aptly  said  that 
the  Russian  Wolfhound,  or  Barzoi,  is  an  immense  Grey- 
hound in  conformation,  with  all  the  elegance  of  contour 
of  that  grand  animal,  but  much  larger.  The  chief  distin- 
guishing feature  of  this  breed  is  the  coat,  which  is  long, 
fine,  dense,  and  should  be  flat,  although  many  specimens 
have  a  roughness  or  waviness  of  coat  suggestive  of  a  Deer- 
hound  cross. 

That  it  is  true  that  there  is  no  definite,  fixed  type  of  the 
breed,  even  in  Russia,  is  incidentally  shown  by  Mr.  A.  J. 
Rosseau,  of  St.  Petersburg,  in  the  London  Fancier's  Gazette 
of  February  7,  1890.  He  says  that  Russian  breeders  have 
been  trying  for  seventy-five  years  to  divide  the  two  types, 
the  long  and  short  haired  dogs,  and  that,  in  spite  of  their 
endeavors,  puppies  of  either  type  will  come  in  one  litter. 
This  is  simply  confessing  the  most  lamentable  incapacity 
of  the  Russian  breeders,  for  English  breeders  have  revolu- 
tionized Pointers,  Setters,  Spaniels,  and  Terriers  in  much 
less  time  than  this,  and  have  actually  created  the  race  of 
Bull  Terriers  from  the  incongruous  elements  of  the  waspish 
old  English  Terrier  and  the  Bulldog.  As  there  is  every 

(261) 


262  THE   AMERICAN  BOOK   OF  THE  DOG. 

probability  of  the  Russian  Wolfhound  being  taken  up 
in  real  earnest  in  England,  a  few  years  will  doubtless  see 
the  development  of  a  recognized,  fixed  type;  and  until  this 
is  done,  the  only  type  to  be  considered  is  the  dog  of  power, 
elegance,  and  beauty,  viewed  in  the  light  of  the  commonly 
accepted  requirements,  which  are  found,  in  some  degree,  in 
all  good  breeds  of  dogs. 


if 


RUSSIAN    WOLFHOUND-CZAR. 
Owned  by  J.  Sperber,  23  Fifth  Avenue,  Pittsburgh,  Penn. 

General  features,  such  as  size,  build,  coat,  and  color, 
seem  to  be  about  the  extent  of  the  requirements  of  a  "  spec- 
imen." In  Russian  Wolfhounds,  therefore,  only  charac- 
teristics applicable  to  all  breeds  of  dogs  are  of  weight  in 
forming  an  opinion  of  any  particular  specimen.  Thus  for 
a  long  coat,  on  a  dog  that  is  at  all  of  Greyhound  type,  it  is 


THE   RUSSIAN   WOLFHOUND,    OR   BARZOI.  263 

plainly  requisite  that  it  be  flat.  A  rough  or  shaggy  coat  is 
evidently  incongruous.  The  same  as  to  head.  The  dog 
belongs  to  the  Greyhound  family,  and  must  have  a  long, 
clean,  narrow  head;  great  strength  and  arch  of  loin;  depth 
and  capacity  of  chest;  firmness  of  feet;  muscle  in  the  fore- 
arm and  hind  quarters;  length  and  carriage  of  tail.  Well- 
bent  hocks  and  an  absence  of  all  useless  lumber  are  plainly 
requirements  of  the  breed. 

As  to  the  history  of  this  breed,  there  seems  to  be  no 
authentic  records.  "The  Book  of  the  Dog,"  by  Yero 
Shaw,  is  the  first  work  in  English  that  mentions  them. 
Their  uses  seem  to  be  in  general  those  of  the  Greyhound. 
Mr.  Rosseau  was  disposed  to  resent  the  application  of  the 
name  of  "Wolfhound"  to  them,  saying  that  they  were  used 
for  coursing  hares  and  chasing  foxes,  and  were  in  no  sense 
wolf -hounds.  However,  the  industry  of  Mr.  F.  Freeman 
Lloyd  disinterred  pictures  of  the  breed  showing  them  in 
combat  with  a  wolf,  with  the  wolf  at  bay,  a  huntsman 
astride  of  it,  holding  it  by  the  ears  while  an  assistant  cut 
its  throat. 

This  acrobatic  performance  was  so  hard  to  swallow  that 
it  raised  a  storm  of  criticism,  which  resulted  in  bringing 
out  evidence  that  the  feat  was  actually  practiced;  It  seems 
probable  that  in  the  more  settled  districts  of  Russia,  where 
wolves  are  extinct,  the  dog  is  used  for  coursing  hares  only; 
while  in  the  wilder  districts,  where  wolves  are  still  to  be 
found,  these  dogs  are  used  for  hunting  them.  Certainly  it 
would  indicate  a  lack  of  judgment  on  the  part  of  the  Rus- 
sians if  they  did  not  use  a  breed  so  peculiarly  fitted  for 
wolf -hunting  in  that  sport;  this  dog  having  the  speed, 
power,  and  courage  for  the  task.  As  confirmatory  of  the 
opinion  that  they  are  so  used,  I  note  the  report  of  a  cours- 
ing-match near  St.  Petersburg,  given  in  the  Fancier's 
Gazette,  of  London,  in  December,  1889,  wherein  it  is  stated 
that  after  coursing  hares  for  some  time,  the  gameness  of 
the  dogs  was  tried  on  wolves,  with  the  result  that  a  single 
bitch  chased,  caught,  and  threw  a  dog  wolf;  and,  with  all 
due  respect  for  the  cracks  among  Greyhounds  and  Deer- 


264  THE  AMERICAN   BOOK   OF  THE  DOG. 

hounds,  I  do  not  believe  that  one  of  them  can  be  produced 
capable  of  duplicating  the  last  part  of  this  performance, 
unless  Russian  wolves  have  degenerated  from  the  standard 
of  power  and  ferocity  with  which  they  were  credited  in  our 
early  days. 

The  correspondent  of  the  Fancier' s  Gazette  arrived  at 
the  conclusion,  however,  that  the  Russian  dogs  would  stand 
no  chance  whatever  with  an  English  Greyhound  in  cours- 
ing; and  this  has  always  been  the  opinion  of  the  most  com- 
petent and  impartial  observers  in  England.  Whether  the 
Russian  dog — be  he  Greyhound,  or  Wolfhound — is  the  dog 
wanted  in  the  Far  West  for  hunting  wolves,  or  not,  it  is 
certain  that  there  is  one  ' '  use ' '  for  which  he  is  preemi- 
nently fitted;  i.  e.,  as  the  "chien  de  luxe."  No  other 
breed  combines  elegance,  speed,  and  power  to  the  same 
degree.  The  Mastiff  has  the  power  and  disposition  for  an 
efficient  guard  and  companion,  but  lacks  the  speed  and 
elegance;  notwithstanding  his  distinguished  dignity,  the 
same  is  true  of  the  St.  Bernard,  and  also  of  the  Newfound- 
land; the  Boarhound  may  have  the  speed,  and  doubtless 
has  the  power,  and  the  finer  drawn  specimens  have  a  certain 
degree  of  elegance,  but  there  is  an  expression  of  ferocity  on 
their  faces  that  unfits  them  for  companions,  especially  of 
ladies.  With  all  his  elegance  and  speed,  the  Greyhound 
lacks  the  appearance  of  power;  and  the  Deerhound  has 
such  an  air  of  joughness  that  elegance  seems  an  impossible 
attribute.  In  each  and  every  one  of  these  particulars,  the 
Russian  dog  is  superexcellent;  and  there  is  a  peculiarly 
aristocratic,  high-bred  look  about  the  dog  that  can  be  more 
easily  realized  than  described.  As  the  companion  of  a 
well-dressed  woman  in  her  walks  in  park  or  country,  or  as 
the  finishing  off  of  a  handsome  span  of  horses,  I  can 
imagine  nothing  to  equal  this  dog. 

A  most  important  qualification  to  this  statement  is,  pro- 
vided the  temper  of  the  particular  animal  be  trustworthy. 
In  this  matter  there  is  great  diversity;  Czar  and  Ivan,  two 
well-known  specimens  in  this  country,  are  perfect  demons 
in  temper  toward  other  dogs,  while  Elsie  is  gentle  and 


THE  RUSSIAN  WOLFHOUND,    OR  BARZOI.  265 

peaceable  to  a  fault.  '  I  fancy  that  Russian  breeding  tends 
to  develop  the  savagery  in  the  breed,  while  English  breed- 
ing will  draw  out  the  gentle,  peaceable  traits  generally 
characteristic  of  all  English  breeds  of  dogs.  The  pictures 
of  Czar  and  Elsie  fairly  represent,  in  a  general  way,  one 
type  of  the  breed,  one  that  might  be  called  the  Setter- 
Greyhound  type;  Czar's  being  a  good  likeness  of  the  dog, 
while  Elsie's  shows  much  more  bone,  and  less  muscle  in 


RUSSIAN   WOLFHOUND-ELSIE. 
Owned  by  Mr.   J.  Otis  Fellows,   Hornellsville,   N.  Y. 

quarters  than  she  really  has.  Neither  picture  does  justice 
to  the  coats;  Czar's  being  much  smoother,  with  the  com- 
monest grooming,  and  Elsie's  being  scant  on  account  of 
low  condition.  Czar  is  a  powerful,  well-made  dog,  about 
twenty-nine  or  thirty  inches  at  the  shoulder,  but  hardly  as 
long  in  back  as  other  specimens  I  have  seen;  in  which 
point  Elsie  shows  an  extreme  development,  and  an  undesir- 
able one.  Czar  was  selected  at  the  Jardin  d' Acclimation  as 
an  unusually  fine  specimen;  and  Elsie  was  selected  by  Mr. 
F.  Freeman  Lloyd,  in  England,  as  the  most  promising 


266  THE  AMERICAN   BOOK    OF   THE   DOG. 

brood  bitch  he  could  find,  either  in  England,  Paris,  or 
Brussels. 

In  Opromiote,  who  was  recently  illustrated  in  the 
American  Field,  we  have  a  totally  different  type — the 
stilty,  chucked-up  appearance,  the  absurdly  small  head 
and  short  neck,  the  shaggy  coat  and  drooping  nose  being 
most  marked;  and  it  is  simply  a  matter  of  taste  as  to  which 
of  these  diverse  types  shall  be  considered  the  correct  one. 
Opromiote,  being  the  property  of  a  Russian  grand  duke, 
maybe  supposed  to  be  the  Russian  ideal  of  the  "correct 
thing;"  but  I  fancy  that  Occidental  taste  will  scarcely 
approve  this  selection.  This,  however,  is  a  matter  for 
future  determination. 

The  defects  commonly  objected  to  in  nearly  all  specimens 
of  the  breed  are  bad  carriage  of  tail,  many  carrying  it 
in  sickle  fashion  away  up  in  the  air — most  un-characteristic 
of  the  Greyhound  family;  wavy  and  even  shaggy  coats, 
coarseness  of  coat  (it  should  be  the  very  finest  of  the  fine, 
so  that  when  the  dog  is  in  motion  it  actually  waves  in  the 
wind),  and  of  course  the  bad  hocks,  quarters,  and  feet  that 
occasionally  occur  in  any  breed.  Some  Greyhound  men  in 
England  have  cited  the  unusual  length  of  body  as  an  objec- 
tion to  some  specimens,  but  from  all  I  can  gather,  this  is  a 
tolerably  common  characteristic  of  the  breed.  If  not 
accompanied  with  extra  muscular  strength  of  loin,  this 
extra  length  is  certainly  an  objection;  but  in  most  of 
the  specimens  I  have  seen,  this  muscular  development 
was  so  marked  a  feature  that  no  weakness  was  the  result, 
while  it  certainly  adds  to  the  elegant  appearance  of  the 
dog. 

Another  decided  blemish  is  the  drooping  nose;  i.  e.,  one 
not  parallel  with  the  general  line  of  head  in  profile.  This 
fault  is  conspicuous  in  the  case  of  Opromiote,  and  was 
noticeable  in  the  dog  Rival  and  bitch  Zerry,  shown  at  the 
New  York  show  of  1890.  It  can  not  be  a  characteristic  of 
the  breed  in  general,  as  the  illustrations  of  Czar  and  Elsie 
show  fairly  level  heads,  while  the  dog  Ivan  Romanoff,  the 
winner  at  New  York  in  1890,  was  much  like  Elsie  in  this 


THE   RUSSIAN    WOLFHOUND,    OR   BARZOI. 


267 


respect.     The  greater  elegance  of  the  level  line  of  profile  is 
too  obvious  to  need  further  remark. 

It  is  highly  probable  that  the  importation  and  breeding 
of  these  handsome,  stately  dogs  will  increase,  and  that  the 
breed  will  soon  attain  the  popularity  in  this  country  that  it 
so  richly  deserves. 


THE  BEAGLE  HOUND. 

BY  HERMAN  F.  SCHELLHASS  ( "  Pious  H."). 


Thro'  miry  swamp  and  wooded  vale, 
The  Beagles  run  the  cotton-tail. 
The  Hounds  give  tongue;  the  welkin  rings; 
'Tis  music  fit  for  lords  or  kings. 

>HE  Beagle  is  undoubtedly  one  of  the  oldest  breeds  of 
dogs  in  existence.  As  in  the  case  of  most  of  the  old 
breeds,  its  origin  is  unknown.  In  examining  the 
various  prominent  works  on  the  Dog,  we  find  frequent 
reference  to  the  Beagle  during  the  times  of  George  IV.  and 
Queen  Elizabeth,  and  in  once  instance,  at  least,  Shakes- 
peare mentions  it.  This  breed  is  also  spoken  of  in  the 
Sportsman's  Cabinet,  an  old  English  work  published  in 
1803,  and  in  other  old  works,  and  from  the  descriptions 
there  given  it  seems  to  have  been,  in  form  and  character, 
the  same  as  it  is  to-day. 

While,  as  remarked,  the  origin  of  the  breed  is  lost  in 
obscurity,  it  was  unquestionably  derived  by  selection,  and 
evolved  from  the  ordinary  Foxhound,  the  latter  having  been 
bred  down  until  the  desired  size  was  obtained.  The  true 
Beagle  is,  as  designated  in  the  standard,  "  a  miniature 
Foxhound." 

Of  all  the  breeds  of  field  dogs  used  in  this  country,  the 
Beagle,  the  most  musical  of  the  Hound  family,  has  unques- 
tionably advanced  the  most  in  favor  and  standing  with  the 
sportsman.  This  is  partly  owing  to  the  fact  that  compara- 
tively few  of  our  sportsmen  had  seen  him  at  home — on  the 
trail  of  a  rabbit,  as  we  commonly  call  our  hares — and,  as 
a  result,  his  good  qualities  and  value  as  a  field  companion 
were  unknown,  and  consequently  could  not  be  appreciated. 
His  having  advanced  so  fast,  of  late,  in  favor  and  apprecia- 

(269) 


270  THE  AMERICAN   BOOK   OF  THE  DOG. 

tion  is  partly  due  to  the  natural  order  of  events,  in  that,  as 
certain  parts  of  the  country  become  thickly  settled  and  the 
feathered  game  exterminated,  lovers  of  field  sports,  who 
have  heretofore  devoted  their  time  in  the  field  to  bird-shoot- 
ing over  Setters,  Pointers,  and  Spaniels,  finding  the  game 
so  nearly  exterminated  as  to  destroy  the  pleasure  of  seek- 
ing it,  discard  their  bird  dogs  in  favor  of  the  Beagle;  for  so 
prolific  is  the  natural  game  of  this  Hound — the  rabbit  and 
hare — that  even  in  the  immediate  vicinity  of  the  largest 
cities  one  can  usually  find  enough  of  it  to  furnish  a  joyous 
day's  sport  afield. 

The  writer  can  cite  several  instances  where,  as  stated 
above,  the  bird  dogs  have  been  discarded  and  a  small  pack 
of  Beagles  taken  in  their  place,  for  the  reasons  advanced. 
He  also  knows  of  a  place,  nearly  in  the  heart  of  the  city  of 
Brooklyn,  where  some  wild  hares  have  found  their  way 
and  located.  He  can  name  several  spots  within  a  half- 
hour's  walk  of  the  above-mentioned  place  where  hares  are 
to  be  found,  and  where,  by  not  hunting  them  with  the  gun, 
but  by  merely 

List'ning  to  the  music  o'  the  hounds, 

he  has  been  able  to  enjoy  many  an  hour's  sport,  and  to 
break  in  his  young  puppies,  as,  "at  dewy  eve,"  he  has  sat, 
watched,  and  listened  to  them  as,  with  their  musically  clear 
and  flute-like  notes,  and 

With  ears  that  sweep  away  the  evening  dew, 
And  voices  matched  like  bells, 

they  trailed  the  little  cotton-tails. 

It  is,  but  a  few  years  since  any  nondescript  mongrel  that 
would  run  a  rabbit  was  called  a  Beagle;  and  when  we  speak 
of  "rabbit  dogs,"  we  have  to  admit  that,  popularly  consid- 
ered, that  includes  all  the  small  mongrel  dogs  in  existence 
whose  owners  imagine,  or  have  been  told,  will  trail  a  hare. 

While,  as  remarked  above,  the  Beagle  is  an  old  breed,  it 
can  not  be  said  that,  except  in  a  few  instances,  we  have 
bred  this  Hound  in  our  country  systematically  until  within 
the  last  few  years. 


THE  BEAGLE  HOUND.  27, 

The  lamented  late  Gen.  Richard  Rowett  a  number  of 
years  ago  developed  a  strain  so  well  and  favorably  known, 
both  for  their  field  and  show  qualities,  that  they  came  to 
be  generally  known  as  the  "  Rowett  Hound." 

The  imported  Hounds  Sam,  Dolly,  and  Warrior  were 
to  the  Rowett  Hounds  what  Ponto,  Moll,  and  Pilot  were  to 
the  famous  Laverack  Setters — the  foundation  of  the  strain. 
Mr.  N.  Elmore,  a  number  of  years  ago,  also  imported  sev- 
eral good  Beagles,  including  his  famous  Ringwood,  now 


BEAGLE    HOUND-TRAILER. 
Owned  by  Mr.  H.  F.  Schellhass,   No.  6  Brevort  Place,   Brooklyn,   N.  Y. 

dead,  from  which  he  bred  many  of  our  most  prominent 
Hounds.  These  two  strains,  together  with  some  other 
blood  to  which  Mr.  Pottinger  Dorsey  has  bred,  form  the 
nucleus  of  the  blood  we  have  in  our  Beagle. 

It  remained,  however,  for  the  American  Beagle  Club, 
formerly  the  American  English  Beagle  Club,  organized  in 
1884,  to  create  an  impetus  among  the  admirers  of  the  breed, 
and  bring  the  merits  of  the  little  Hound  before  such  of 
the  sportsmen  as  were  not  aware  of  its  value. 

Several  of  our  most  prominent  Beagle  breeders  met  and 
formed  the  above-named  club.  A  committee  was  appointed 


272  THE  AMERICAN   BOOK   OF  THE  DOG. 

to  draft  a  standard;  bench  shows  were  requested  to  provide 
suitable  classes,  where  previously  only  one  or  two  and  per- 
haps no  classes  at  all  had  been  assigned  the  breed;  special 
prizes  were  offered  by  the  club  to  stimulate  competition, 
and  show  managers  were  requested  to  appoint  as  judges 
men  who  were  especially  interested  in  the  breed  rather  than 
men  who  perhaps  had  never  seen  a  Beagle  at  work,  and 
consequently  could  not  know,  from  a  practical  stand-point, 
what  is  required  of  one  to  make  it  an  ideal  working  Hound. 
The  result  is  that  the  different  shows  have  adopted  the 
standard  of  the  said  club,  invite  its  members  to  judge,  and 
where  the  entries  at  the  principal  shows  had  previously 
consisted  of  one  or  two  mediocre  specimens,  and  perhaps  as 
many  nondescripts,  under  the  plea  that  they  were  ' f  rabbit 
dogs,"  the  quality  of  the  classes  is  now  on  fully  as  high  a 
plane  as  that  of  any  of  the  other  breeds  of  field  dogs  exhib- 
ited, and  our  breeders  are  now  breeding  them  as  carefully 
and  as  true  to  type  as  any  other  breed  of  field  dogs  is 
bred. 

The  entries  at  the  prominent  shows  now  number  in  the 
thirties  and  forties,  and  where,  formerly,  all  types  and  sizes 
were  represented,  the  classes  now  exhibit  an  evenness  here- 
tofore unseen.  The  scene  at  the  Westminster  Kennel 
Club,  New  York  show,  in  1888,  when  the  open  dog  class  of 
Beagles  was  being  judged,  was  such  that  it  will  not  soon 
be  forgotten  by  the  writer,  nor  by  many  other  fanciers  of 
the  Beagle  who  witnessed  it.  The  class  consisted  of  some 
fifteen  or  more  Hounds,  everyone  of  them  I  believe  worthy 
a  mention,  and  all  of  them  Hounds  which  a  few  years  since 
would  have  been  capable  of  winning  first  prizes  or  cham- 
pionship honors  at  any  of  our  shows.  They  exhibited  such 
a  marked  similarity  of  type  and  size  that  I  remarked  to  my 
friend  Mr.  S.  T.  Hammond,  while  looking  them  over,  that 
one  might  well  suppose  they  were  representatives  of  a 
single  pack  which  had  been  selected  by  their  owner  to 
represent  his  type,  whereas  the  Hounds  present  repre- 
sented drafts  from  several  different  kennels. 

The  manner  in  which  they  appeared  is  as  vivid  in  the 


THE   BEAGLE   HOUND.  273 

mind  of  the  writer  as  though  the  scene  was  occurring  at  the 
present  instant,  so  fascinating  was  it. 

It  was  indeed  a  beautiful  sight,  and  one  long  to  be  re- 
membered. As  handsome  a  pack  of  Beagles  as  ever  graced 
a  show  ring;  all  of  working  size  and  all  looking  as  though 
thorough-bred  workers  and  fielders;  all  showing  as  beauti- 
ful Hound  character  as  any  pack  of  Foxhounds  could;  in 
fact,  they  looked  and  carried  themselves  like  a  pack  of  min- 
iature Foxhounds.  Such  is  the  style  of  the  Beagle  one 
meets  nowadays  at  our  shows  and  in  kennels  of  admirers 
of  the  breed,  in  contrast  to  the  Beagles  of  all  sizes  and  types 
found  a  few  years  since  in  our  shows  and  kennels. 

Several  of  our  prominent  sportsmen  here  in  the  East 
have  packs  of  various  sizes,  while  a  large  number  have  one 
or  more  Hounds.  To  show  how  wonderfully  the  Beagle 
has  increased  in  popular  favor  with  us  during  the  last  few 
years,  it  is  only  necessary  to  say  that  the  writer  has,  dur- 
ing the  past  four  years,  collected  a  list  of  some  nine  hun- 
dred names  of  individuals  owning  Beagles. 

Among  our  sportsmen  who  own  packs,  as  above  men- 
tioned, may  be  named:  Pottinger  Dorsey,  New  Market, 
Md. ;  Somerset  Kennels,  F.  C.  Phoebus,  manager,  Bernards- 
ville,  N.  J.;  Belmont  Purdy,  Hempstead,  N.  Y.;  Dr.  J. 
W.  Downey,  New  Market,  Md. ;  N.  Elmore,  Gfranby,  Conn.; 
W.  H.  Child,  Philadelphia,  Penn. ;  George  Laick,  Tarry- 
town,  N.  Y.;  Louis  Smith,  East  Saginaw,  Mich.;  Col. 
F.  G.  Skinner,  Lexington,  Ya. ;  Dr.  C.  E.  Nichols,  Troy, 
N.  Y. ;  John  Davidson,  Monroe,  Mich.;  F.  D.  Hallett, 
Winsted,  Conn.;  Maj.  J.  M.  Taylor,  R.  F.  Mayhew,  New 
York,  N.  Y.;  H.  C.  Wolfe,  Lewisburg,  Penn.;  George 
H.  Hill,  Madeira,  Ohio;  C.  E.  Verges,  Lowell,  Ohio; 
James  Gibson,  Apollo,  Penn.;  J.  M.  Fronefield,  Jr., 
Wayne,  Penn.;  F.  J.  Darcy,  Mt.  Vernon,  Ohio;  A. 
McArthur,  Waukegan,  111.;  Dr.  W.  F.  Mead,  Boston, 
Mass.;  H.  L.  Krueder,  Nanuet,  N.  Y. ;  J.  W.  Appleton, 
New  York,  N.  Y.;  Cyrus  Field  Judson,  Dobbs  Ferry,  N. 
Y.;  Charles  Thoman,  St.  Louis,  Mo.;  W.  L.  Crittenden, 
Pine  View,  Va.;  A.  H.  Wakefield,  Providence,  R.  I.;  A. 

18 


274  THE   AMERICAN   BOOK    OF   THE   DOG. 

C.  Krueger,  Wrights ville,  Penn.;  W.  H.  Ashburner,  Phila- 
delphia, Penn. ;  W.  S.  Clark,  Linden,  Mass. ;  W.  F.  Rutter, 
Lawrence,  Mass.;  Arthur  S.  Aborn,  Wakefield,  Mass.;  T. 
M.  Aldridge,  Manton,  R.  I.;  W.  S.  Applegate,  New 
Albany,  Ind.;  Joseph  W.  Appleton,  Ipswich,  Mass.;  John 
Aspinwall,  Barrytown,  N.  Y.;  Capt.  William  Asherton, 
Rock  Springs,  Va. ;  L.  K.  Avery,  Bremen,  Ind. ;  Winthrop 
B.  Atherton-Newton,  Lower  Falls,  Mass.;  E.  C.  Barrett, 
Concord,  Mass.;  George  L.  Barnes,  Tyringham,  Mass.; 
J.  M.  Berghold,  Canal,  Fulton,  Ohio;  Dr.  J.  J.  Board, 
Lynch' s  Station,  Ya. ;  Gen.  F.  A.  Bond,  Jessnps,  Md.;  E. 
Bullard,  Medfield,  Mass. ;  A.  Y.  Bradrich,  College  Corner, 
Ohio;  C.  G.  Browning,  Worcester,  Mass.;  Hiram  Card, 
Elora,  Ontario,  Can. ;  F.  W.  Chapman,  Melrose,  Mass. ; 
B.  Y.  Covert,  Ovid,  K  Y.;  J.  S.  Cusson,  Fredonia,  K  Y.; 
Charles  S.  Davol,  Barrington,  R.  L;  F.  J.  D'Arcey,  Mt. 
Yernon,  Ohio;  Morris Darrach,  Germantown,  Penn.;  W.  E. 
Deane,  Somerset,  Mass.;  J.  B.  Dunn,  Providence,  R.  I. ; 
S.  T.  and  C.  J.  Eyanson,  Columbia  City,  Ind. ;  C.  W.  and 
W.  C.  Fromm,  Cleveland,  Ohio;  Charles  A.  Fales,  Central 
Falls,  R.  I. ;  A.  M.  Gerry,  South  Paris,  Me. ;  Harry  S.  Gil- 
bert, Millersburg,  Penn. ;  H.  C.  Graff,  Cadiz,  Ohio;  F.  J.  Hall, 
Jr.,  Riverside,  Cal;  T.  W.  Hemphill,  Glen  Mills,  Penn.; 
H.  C.  Huidekoper,  Dover,  Mass.;  E.  W.  Jester,  St.  George's, 
Del. ;  H.  G.  Jerome,  Uncasville,  Conn. ;  John  F.  Jolly,  Den- 
ner,  S.  C.;  Charles  F.  Kent,  Monticello,  K  Y.;  W.  C. 
Kennerly  (Old  Dominion),  White  Post,  Ya.;  C.  H.  Laing, 
White  Cloud,  Mich.;  F.  T.  Lane,  Glencoe,  111.;  Prof.  W. 
W.  Legare,  Demopolis,  Ala.;  E.  E.  and  H.  W.  Lord, 
Gildersleeve,  Conn.;  A.  McDonald,  Rockland,  Me.;  Dr.  T. 
Clay  Maddux,  Jessups,  Md.;  William  L.  Mann,  Elizabeth, 
N.  J.;  Orin  Miles,  Barton,  Yt.;  J.  Shaw  Margerum,  Wash- 
ington, Penn. ;  Thomas  J.  Mastin,  Kansas  City,  Mo. ;  Jacob 
Moerlin,  Cincinnati,  Ohio;  Louis  Melchoir,  Battle  Creek, 
Mich.;  Richard  Merrill,  Milwaukee,  Wis.;  J.  G.  Messner, 
Pittsburgh,  Penn. ;  O.  H.  Mossman,  Barton,  Yt. ;  M.  M.  Mss- 
ley,  Elizabethtown,  Penn.;  Charles  W.  Nutting,  Lynn, 
Mass. ;  W.  J.  Percival,  Stanton,  Mich. ;  T.  T.  Phlegar,  Pearis- 


THE   BEAGLE  HOUND.  275 

burg,  Va. ;  Richard  Pancoast,  New  York,  N.  Y. ;  G-eorge 
W.  Pownall,  Christiana,  Perm.;  A.  S.  Presbry,  Cheever,  N. 
Y.;  George  W.  Proctor,  West  Gloucester,  Mass.;  C.  C.  Pyfer, 
Foreston,  111.;  Charles  Richardson,  Pittsburgh,  Penn.; 
O.  W.  Rogers  ("O.  W.  R."),  Billerica,  Mass.;  F.  C.  Roch- 
ester, Logan,  Ohio;  Dr.  F.  H.  Rehwinkle,  Chillicothe,  Ohio; 
George  P.  H.  Rector,  Yicksburg,  Miss. ;  Charles  C.  Ruppel, 
Buffalo,  1NV  Y. ;  J.  Satterthwaite,  Jr.,  Jenkintown,  Perm.; 
E.  D.  Sappinton,  Arrow  Rock,  Mo.;  Dr.  M.  V.  B.  Saun- 
ders,  Detroit,  Mich.;  M.  F.  Serves,  Washington,  D.  C.; 
Charles  Schweim,  Cincinnati,  Ohio;  E.  E.  and  J.  Shauer, 
Pittsburgh,  Penn. ;  F.  A.  Simpkins,  Youngstown,  Ohio;  Oscar 
Smith,  Wilkesbarre,  Penn.;  R.  A.  Smith,  Grand  Crossing, 
111. ;  S.  R.  Smith,  Pompton,  N.  J. ;  M.  M.  Spellissy,  Troy,  N. 
Y. ;  J.  W.  Sprachlin,  Woodstock,  Ontario,  Can.;  W.  A. 
and  F.  C.  Stauf,  Baltimore,  Md. ;  Charles  Steiger,  Phila- 
delphia, Penn. ;  F.  G.  Stewart,  Hoosic  Falls,  N.  Y. ;  Edwin 
Still,  E.  Stine,  Philadelphia,  Perm. ;  W.  F.  Streeter,  Lehigh 
Tannery,  Penn. ;  C.  H.  and  Daniel  Storrs,  Lebanon,  N.  H. ; 
Hy  Strecker,  Harmar,  Ohio;  Dr.  H.  R.  Surles,  Worcester, 
Ohio;  George  Taber,  Garrettsville,  Ohio;  E.  C.  Tarr,  Lynn, 
Mass. ;  F.  McKee  Thayer,  Colorado  Springs,  Colo. ;  F. 
Thurlo,  E.  F.  Tebbetts,  Newburyport,  Mass.;  W.  H.  Todd, 
Yermillion,  Ohio;  Dr.  L.  H.  Twaddell,  Philadelphia,  Penn.; 
Frank  H.  Twitchell,  Lancaster,  1ST.  H.;  Fred  W.  Utting, 
Plattsburgh,  N.  Y. ;  Eberhard  Yollmer,  Trenton,  N.  J. ;  A. 
Voss,  Goshen,  N.  Y. ;  A.  C.  Waddell,  Kansas  City,  Mo.; 
E.  R.  Watrous,  Dayton,  Ohio;  J.  O.  Wedell,  Elgin,  111.; 
Dr.  E.  B.  Weston,  Highland  Park,  111. ;  F.  W.  Wheaton, 
Wilkesbarre,  Penn.;  C.  E.  White,  Cleveland,  Ohio;  C.  B. 
Willard,  Westerly,  R.  L;  Willard  Bros.,  Jonesville,  111.; 
C.  S.  Wixom,  Covert,  'N.  Y. ;  Andrew  Winsor,  Providence, 
R.  I. ;  D.  A.,  J.,  and  J.  S.  Williams,  Lynn,  Mass.;  Frank 
Woodyatt,  Savanna,  111.;  W.  N".  Walling,  Auburndale, 
Mass.;  E.  B.  Walbridge,  Petersboro,  1ST.  H.;  D.  D.  Will- 
iams, Washingtonville,  Ohio;  R.  E.  Westlake,  Olyphant, 
Penn. ;  Dr.  M.  F.  Youngs,  Littleton,  N.  H. ;  A.  M.  York, 
Conway,  Ohio;  F.  B.  Zimmer,  Gloversville,  N.  Y.,  and 


276  THE  AMERICAN   BOOK    OF  THE   DOG. 

others  whose  names  are  equally  familiar,  but  which  slip  my 
mind  at  the  present  moment.  The  writer  also  prides  him- 
self in  his  own  kennel,  in  which  he  usually  has  eight  or 
ten  or  more  Beagles. 

It  is  scarcely  possible  .to  bestow  too  much  praise  on  this 
little  Hound,  which  has  advanced  more  in  popularity  dur- 
ing the  last  few  years  among  sportsmen  in  this  country 
than  has  any  other  breed  of  field  dogs.  .This  is  the  natural 
result  of  our  sportsmen  becoming  familiar,  by  degrees,  with 
the  value  of  this  Hound  for  field  purposes. 

As  civilization  encroaches  upon  the  haunts  of  the  fox 
and  the  deer,  causing  them  to  decrease  in  numbers,  sports- 
men who  have  heretofore  hunted  them  with  large  Hounds, 
discover  that  as  this  game  grows  scarce  it  is  better  hunted 
with  the  Beagle.  Col.  F.  GK  Skinner,  than  whom  no  more 
ardent  sportsman  or  Hound  man  is  to  be  found  among  us, 
always  advocates  the  Beagle  in  preference  to  Fox  or  other 
Hounds  for  foxes  and  deer  in  sections  where  they  are  scarce 
or  are  hunted  to  the  gun,  and  for  foxes  when  hunted  with 
the  gun,  as  in  the  Northern  and  New  England  States.  This 
is  owing  to  the  fact  that,  not  being  so  fast  as  the  larger 
Hounds,  they  give  better  opportunity  for  shots,  and,  par- 
ticularly where  the  game  is  scarce,  they  do  not  frighten  it 
so  as  to  drive  it  far  away,  to  remain  perhaps  for  days,  as 
the  larger  Hounds  do.  Doctor  Downey,  of  Maryland,  and 
his  friends  always  use  their  Beagles  in  preference  to  larger 
Hounds  when  they  go  on  their  annual  deer- hunt  to  West 
Virginia. 

Thus,  it  will  be  seen  that  the  Beagle  is  not  only  growing 
in  popularity  as  we  become  more  intimately  acquainted 
with  his  value,  but  it  is  also  in  the  natural  order  of  events 
for  him  to  grow  in  favor  with  us  as  game  becomes  scarcer. 

Although  the  Beagle  is  too  slow  for  fox-hunting,  in 
some  parts  of  the  country,  as,  for  instance,  in  the  South,  it 
is  also  used  with  success  for  that  sport,  and  preferred  by 
many  to  a  larger  Hound  in  localities  where  the  foxes  are 
hunted  to  the  gun,  for  reasons  herein  later  explained.  The 
writer  was  some  time  ago  informed  by  an  acquaintance 


THE  BEAGLE  HOUND.  277 

residing  in  Virginia  that,  in  order  to  satisfy  some  friends  of 
the  ability  of  his  Beagles  to  kill  a  red  fox,  he  took  his  pack 
of  Hounds — under  fifteen  inches  in  height — with  an  old- 
Foxhound  to  start  them  on  the  trail,  and  soon  started  a  fox. 
Being  stationed  himself  on  a  hill,  he  was  able  to  watch  the 
entire  hunt,  and,  after  a  run  of  several  hours,  the  Beagles 
cai^ght  and  killed  the  fox,  while  the  old  Foxhound  was  not 
in  at  the  death.  I  cite  this  instance  because  many  claim 
that  the  Beagle  would  be  entirely  useless  in  a  fox-hunt. 

The  Beagle  is  also  used  for  hunting  the  large  white  hare 
(Lepus  Virginianus)  which  abounds  in  some  parts  of  this 
country.  A  friend  of  the  writer,  residing  in  Rhode  Island, 
who  has  one  of  the  largest  and  best  packs  of  Beagles  in  the 
country,  hunted  these  hares  with  his  pack  last  winter,  but 
says  that  while  the  sport  is  exciting,  it  is  not  so  much  so  as 
hunting  the  ordinary  cotton-tail  (Lepus  Americanus). 
This  is  for  the  reason  that  the  large  hare  circles  much 
farther  off  than  the  latter,  running  often  miles  before  re- 
turning, and  consequently  taking  the  Hounds  a  greater  part 
of  the  time  out  of  the  hearing  and  sight  of  the  hunters. 

Anyone  residing  in  any  of  our  large  cities  can,  if  he  have 
a  sufficient  amount  of  the  instincts  of  the  backwoodsman 
to  make  him  worthy  the  name  of  a  sportsman,  find  spots 
by  prospecting,  as  it  were,  where  he  can,  almost  any  day, 
take  his  Beagles  and  give  them  a  chance  to  do  some  trail- 
ing. If  such  persons  will  do  as  the  writer  does,  and  not 
shoot  these  hares,  or  allow  their  Hounds  to  kill  them,  but 
look  upon  them  in  the  light  of  prized  jewels,  they  can  have 
many  an  hour's  sport,  at  dusk  or  after  business  hours,  with 
their  Beagles.  The  writer  recently  had  marked  down  a 
small  patch  of  woods,  within  fifty  minutes  walk  of  his 
home,  which  had  a  solitary  hare  in  it  nearly  the  entire 
season,  and  which  has  afforded  many  an  hours  sport  for 
him  and  his  Beagles.  A  few  such  hares,  carefully  pro- 
tected, may  afford  sport  for  a  whole  season. 

While  the  customary  way  of  hunting  the  hare  with  Bea- 
gles is  for  the  sportsman  to  stand  at  runways  or  likely 
places  where  the  hare  will  come  when  brought  around  by 


278  THE  AMERICAN   BOOK   OF  THE   DOG. 

the  Hounds,  and  shoot  it  as  it  passes,  others,  again,  do  not 
use  the  gun  at  all,  but  let  fhe  Hounds  run  the  hare  down 
and  kill  it. 

The  Beagle  is  the  superior  of  the  Basset  in  that  it  can 
o^et  over  a  rough  country  much  easier,  is  not  so  extremely 
slow  as  the  latter,  and,  being  a  smaller  dog,  does  not  re- 
quire the  room  or  amount  of  food  that  the  latter  does.  The 
same  amount  of  room  and  cooking — the  latter  no  small 
item  as  far  as  inconvenience,  work,  and  expense  are  con- 
cerned— that  will  keep  a  couple  of  Foxhounds  will  easily 
keep  five  or  six  Beagles.  Where  one  has  several  Hounds, 
the  latter  points  are  of  no  little  importance.  It  will  readily 
be  seen  that  the  Beagle  is  undoubtedly  the  best  general 
utility  Hound  we  have. 

While  it  is  beyond  the  means  of  the  average  American 
sportsman  to  keep  a  large  kennel  of  bird  dogs  and  have 
them  all  broken  as  they  should  be,  it  is  but  comparatively 
little  expense  to  keep  a  pack  of  Beagles  all  broken  for  field 
use.  In  some  portions  of  this  country,  particularly  the 
South,  as  well  as  in  England,  large  packs  of  Beagles  are  to 
be  found,  owned  and  maintained  by  sportsmen  for  their 
private  enjoyment. 

One  of  the  greatest  pleasures  of  the  practical  sportsman 
is  in  showing  himself  a  practical  breeder,  for  to  possess  the 
knowledge  and  ability  to  become  such  is  no  small  honor. 
To  do  this,  one  must  have  at  least  several  dogs  of  the 
breed  he  is  interested  in,  in  his  kennel,  and  as  remarked 
above,  if  he  have  such  a  kennel  he  has  use  for  all  his 
stock  in  the  field.  The  amount  of  pleasure  derived  from 
his  kennel  by  the  writer  is  in  proportion  to  the  number  of 
dogs  or  Hounds  in  it,  and  few  sportsmen  care  to  have  in 
their  kennel  more  dogs  than  they  have  use  for.  This,  as  I 
say,  illustrates  the  advantage  of  one's  being  partial  to 
Hounds. 

Outside  of  his  qualities  as  a  field  dog,  the  Beagle  is  a 
desirable  house  companion;  not  over-large,  short-coated, 
and  affectionate,  he  is  a  most  desirable  and  lovable  com- 
panion. If  educated  to  it,  he  is  an  excellent  watch-dog. 


THE   BEAGLE   HOUND.  279 

In  my  kennel  I  have  always  found  them  exceptionally 
quiet  and  peaceable.  I  have  always  allowed  them  to  re- 
main loose  and  sleep  as  they  liked,  half  a  dozen  or  more 
in  one  bed,  and  they  were  invariably  quiet  and  friendly 
to  one  another,  while  my  neighbor's  Setters,  Pointers,  and 
other  dogs  are  constantly  noisy,  and  frequently  quarrel- 
some. 

It  is  claimed  by  some  people  who  are  not  fully  ac- 
quainted with  their  good  qualities  that  Hounds  are  lacking 
in  affection,  and  are  given  to  fighting.  As  regards  the 
Beagle,  I  am  pleased  to  state  that  such  is  not  the  case. 
They  are  fully  as  affectionate  and  companionable  as  my 
Setters,  Spaniels,  or  Pointers.  As  I  now  write,  my  chair 
is  surrounded  by  several  of  these  little  Hounds,  com- 
fortably stretched  out  in  repose.  Every  few  moments  one 
or  another  gets  up,  places  its  feet  on  my  lap,  and  gazes  at 
me  pleadingly,  as  it  mutely  seeks  a  kind  word,  or  slyly 
pokes  its  nose  against  my  elbow  as  a  more  efficacious  way 
of  attracting  attention,  as  some  of  the  singular-looking 
hieroglyphics  on  the  manuscript  will  allow  the  printer  to 
attest.  At  the  same  time,  another  one,  jealous  of  the  atten- 
tion shown  the  former,  is  sure  to  come  forward  and  en- 
deavor to  push  the  other  one  away  in  order  to  have  all  the 
attention  shown  itself;  and  thus  throughout  the  evening 
they  are  constantly  making  their  presence  known.  My 
Melody  lies  nestled  beside  me,  always  insisting  on  her  right 
to  a  place,  while  I  am  constantly  compelled  to  help  the 
other  Hounds,  including  Trailer,  Eiot,  Music,  Trinket,  and 
others,  down  time  and  time  again  as  they  claim  their  right 
to  my  attention. 

As  for  fighting,  while  I  have  known  Setters  to  kill  one 
another  in  a  fight  in  their  kennel,  I  have  never  known  of  a 
single  instance  where  my  Beagles  have  fought  among  them- 
selves, although  they  run  together  all  day  and  sleep  to- 
gether in  their  kennel  at  night  unchained. 

As  to  breeding,  it  is  generally  believed  by  Beagle  fan- 
ciers that  the  progeny  usually  have  a  tendency  to  grow 
larger  than  their  dam.  It  is  therefore  considered  advisa- 


280  THE  AMERICAN   BOOK   OF  THE  DOG. 

ble  to  breed  to  a  dam  smaller  than  the  sire  and  smaller  than 
the  size  it  is  desired  to  obtain  in  the  progeny. 

Beagles,  generally  speaking,  require  but  little  training 
to  make  them  good  workers.  They  take  to  their  work  nat- 
urally, and  if  given  plenty  of  practice  on  game  while 
young,  they  will,  with  experience,  become  self-trained.  If 
kept  in  the  country,  where  they  may  run  loose  and  roam 
about  by  themselves,  as  they  grow  up  they  are  liable  to 
wander  off  from  their  kennel  and  hunt  on  their  own  account. 
They  soon  become  accustomed  to  the  ways  and  tricks  of 
bunny,  and  learn  to  follow  and  circumvent  him. 

If  you  do  not  so  let  your  puppies  run  loose,  but  wish  to 
train  them  yourself,  you  may  take  them  out  with  one  or 
two  steady,  well-trained  old  Hounds,  and  the  youngsters 
will  soon  learn  to  follow  and  imitate  them.  Go  out,  if 
possible,  about  daylight  or  dusk,  when  the  dew  is  falling; 
then  you  are  more  apt  to  find  the  hares  moving,  and,  as  a 
result,  warmer  trails  will  then  be  found  than  at  other 
times. 

I  lead  my  puppies  to  a  spot  where  I  think  I  will  be  most 
likely  to  find  the  hares,  and  then  quietly  take  as-  comfort- 
able a  seat  as  I  can  find,  on  a  stump  or  fence-rail,  or  else- 
where, and  leave  the  puppies  to  their  own  resources. 
Being  thus  assured  that  you  have  no  intention  of  moving 
away,  and  not  having  their  thoughts  drawn  from  what  is 
instinctively  bred  in  them,  namely,  the  desire  to  hunt,  they 
will  devote  their  whole  attention  to  the  finding  of  game. 
When  thus  giving  the  puppies  their  first  experience,  allow 
the  older  Hounds  to  catch  and  kill  the  hare,  as  an  incentive 
to  the  youngsters  to  hunt  more  ambitiously  for  the  next 
one. 

After  taking  your  puppies  out  thus  with  a  good-working 
old  dog  a  few  times,  they  will  take  readily  to  the  work,  and 
will  soon  develop  into  efficient  workers. 

It  is  believed  by  some  breeders  of  Beagles  that  they  are 
more  subject  to  worms  than  most  breeds.  My  experience 
has  been  that  they  almost  invariably  have  them.  Last  year 
I  bred  and  raised  what  wa,s  probably,  without  exception, 


THE    BEAGLE   HOUND.  281 

the  smallest  grown  Beagle  in  this  country,  it  standing  in 
height  only  about  seven  to  eight  inches  and  weighing  about 
four  pounds.  This  Beagle  was  proportionately  small  before 
weaning.  When  some  eight  weeks  old,  and  before  weaned, 
it  passed  several  large  bunches  of  worms;  and  nearly  all 
the  puppies  I  have  ever  raised  have  been  afflicted  with 
these  pests.  1  have  always  considered  santonine  to  be  the 
most  efficacious,  and,  at  the  same  time,  the  safest  remedy 
for  worms  in  puppies.  My  mode  of  administering  it  is  to 
give  a  dose  each  morning,  a  short  time  before  feeding,  for 
five  days.  Dose  for  a  puppy,  say  ten  weeks  old,  two  grains. 
It  may  be  given  in  about  a  teaspoonf  ul  of  milk  or  in  a  little 
butter;  the  former  is  the  more  convenient,  and  the  puppy 
usually  is  more  sure  of  swallowing  the  santonine.  After 
the  last  dose  I  give  a  physic,  composed  of  about  one  tea- 
spoonful  of  castor-oil,  the  same  amount  of  syrup  (not  ex- 
tract) of  buckthorn,  with  two  or  three  drops  of  turpentine 
added.  It  must  be  borne  in  mind  that  any  treatment  for 
worms  is  useless  unless  the  medicine  be  administered  on  an 
empty  stomach,  the  plan  being  to  have  the  worms  feed  on 
the  drug,  which  is  poisonous  to  them. 

Regarding  preparing  Beagles  for  the  bench,  it  should  be 
remembered  that  as  the  standard  calls  for  a  coarse  instead 
of  a  fine  coat,  in  texture,  the  novice  should  not  endeavor  to 
get  the  coat,  as  is  done  with  most  breeds,  in  as  fine  a  condi- 
tion as  possible.  One  of  the  characteristic  faults  of  Bea- 
gles is  their  tendency  to  being  too  slack  in  loin;  therefore, 
if  your  Hound  is  unduly  slack  in  loin,  do  not  have  it  too 
low  in  flesh.  It  would,  in  such  a  case,  be  better  to  have  it 
over-full  in  flesh.  The  former  condition  aggravates  in  ap- 
pearance the  fault  mentioned,  while  the  latter  tends  to  cover 
it  up. 

I  predict  that,  as  the  worth  of  the  Beagle  becomes  better 
and  more  widely  known  and  appreciated,  and  as  the  nat- 
ural order  of  events  causes  him  to  become  the  field  dog  best 
adapted  to  the  circumstances  that  are  sure  to  exist,  particu- 
larly in  the  settled  localities  of  the  East  and  the  North,  he 


282  THE   AMERICAN    BOOK   OF   THE   DOG. 

will  grow  greater  in  popular  favor  than  any  of  the  other 
breeds  of  field  dogs. 

As  the  ruffed  grouse,  or  partridge,  the  woodcock.  ' '  Bob 
White,"  and  the  various  other  game  birds  become  practi- 
cally exterminated,  as  they  do  in  those  parts  of  the  coun- 
try which  become  thickly  settled,  our  sportsmen  find 
themselves  compelled  to  go  hundreds,  and  even  thousands, 
of  miles  to  find  the  amount  of  good  shooting  they  had  pre- 
viously been  accustomed  to  enjoy.  This  requires  a  longer 
purse  and  greater  amount  of  leisure  than  the  great  major- 
ity of  them  possess,  and  consequently  they  have  to  adapt 
themselves  to  the  circumstances,  and  either  forego  their 
sport  or  seek  game  which  has  not  as  great  an  antipathy  to 
civilization,  thick  settlements,  and  man,  as  our  game  birds 
have.  The  Eastern  sportsman  will,  therefore,  in  future,  have 
recourse  to  our  little -short-legged,  long-eared  friend,  and 
will  enjoy  his  outing  just  as  well  as  erstwhile  he  did  when 
his  Setter  or  Pointer  led  him  through  the  fields. 

In  selecting  a  Beagle  for  field  use,  one  should  of  course 
look  to  those  points  of  the  most  practical  value.  Probably 
the  first  matter  to  be  considered  is  the  question  of  size; 
this,  of  course,  the  buyer  must  decide  for  himself,  whether 
he  be  governed  by  experience,  fancy,  or  the  advice  of  oth- 
ers. Next  to  the  question  of  size,  he  should  bear  in  mind 
that  quality  more  important  than  speed — endurance.  In 
order  to  obviate  too  great  speed"  in  a  Beagle,  the  standard 
limits  the  size  of  them  in  height  to  fifteen  inches,  as,  in 
hunting  the  natural  game  of  the  Beagle,  the  hare,  only  a 
low  rate  of  speed  is  desired,  and  when  using  the  Beagle  for 
fox  and  deer  hunting  the  object,  partly,  is  to  avoid  the 
greater  speed  of  the  Foxhound  or  Deerhound. 

The  weak  points  in  the  Beagle,  and  which  seem  to  be 
characteristic  of  the  breed,  but  which  should  be  overcome 
by  judicious  mating  and  breeding,  are  an  inclination  to 
snipiness  and  to  being  long  cast  in  the  loin.  The  ideal 
Beagle  can  not  be  better  described  than  by  quoting  from 
the  standard:  "A  miniature  Foxhound,  solid  and  big  for 
his  inches,  with  the  wear-and-tear  look  of  the  dog  that  can 


THE  BEAGLE  HOUND.  283 

last  in  the  chase  and  follow  his  quarry  to  the  death."  It  is 
needless  to  say  that  a  short,  or  at  least  a  strong  loin,  is  of 
far  more  importance  in  a  Hound  than  in  a  bird  dog,  from 
the  nature  of  his  calling,  as  stated  above. 

Fully  as  important  a  point  is  the  one  of  selecting  a 
Hound  having  good  legs  and  feet.  This  is  a  very  important 
point  in  a  bird  dog,  and  much  more  so  in  a  Hound.  A  Bea- 
gle should  be  selected  having  well-arched  toes,  and  the  same 
close  together,  with  good  hard  pads  underneath.  A  foot 
afte?1  the  model  of  a  cat's  foot  is  to  be  preferred  to  what  is 
known  as  a  "  hare-foot,"  so  called  from  its  similarity  to 
the  foot  of  a  hare.-  In  noting  a  Beagle' s  feet  and  legs,  it 
is  also  very  important  to  get  a  good  short  and  upright 
pastern,  as  the  same  is  much  stronger  and  can  stand  much 
more  wear  and  tear  than  a  long  or  sloping  one;  besides,  the 
latter  is  usually  indicative  of  a  hare-foot,  or,  more  properly 
speaking,  a  hare-foot,  from  its  shape,  causes  the  pastern  to 
slope  and  be  comparatively  long. 

In  a  Setter  or  Pointer  a  sloping  pastern  is  desired,  to 
avoid  the  great  strain  upon  it  in  suddenly  stopping  on  a 
point,  and  which  strain  on  a  straight  pastern  would  cause 
the  same  to  knuckle  over;  but  in  a  Hound  the  short,  straight 
pastern  is  greatly  to  be  preferred,  as  far  stronger  and  more 
enduring;  the  Hound,  from  the  nature  of  his  work,  not 
needing  to  subject  himself  to  such  a  strain  as  mentioned 
regarding  the  bird  dog.  Next  in  importance  I  should  con- 
sider a  good  coat,  which  is  coarse  and  of  good  length. 

This  is  a  most  important  factor,  as,  from  the  nature  of  his 
work,  the  Beagle  is  compelled  to  hunt  almost  entirely  in 
the  thickest  of  underbrush,  which,  unless  he  be  well-coated, 
will  tear  his  skin  and  flesh  in  a  cruel  manner;  and  though 
he  possess  the  grit  and  pluck  which  causes  him  to  appar- 
ently not  mind  it  while  keeping  to  his  work,  the  poor 
faithful  servant  suffers  for  days  until  he  recovers,  and  in  the 
meantime  is  in  no  condition  to  hunt  if  it  be  desired  of  him. 

To  show  how  thoroughly  and  comb -like  the  briers  and 
brush  work  through  a  Beagle' s  coat  in  ordinary  hunting, 
one  needs  but  to  notice  any  Beagle,  with  a  fair  amount  of 


284  THE  AMERICAN   BOOK   OF  THE  DOG. 

white  on  him,  when  he  starts  out  to  hunt,  and,  no  matter 
how  dirty  and  soiled  his  coat  maybe,  it  requires  but  a  short 
hunt  to  make  his  coat  look  as  neat  and  clean  as  though  he 
had  had  a  thorough  washing. 

When  hunting,  I  have  often  practically  convinced  my 
friends  of  the  same,  using*  as  an  illustration  a  certain 
Hound.  This  dog,  which  has  a  good  deal  of  white  on 
him,  keeps  his  coat  always  dirty.  After  hunting  some  lit- 
tle time  he  will  have  the  appearance  of  having  just  been 
washed. 

I  recently  received  a  letter  from  a  gentleman,  a  stranger, 
who  had  a  short  time  previously  become  interested  in  Bea- 
gles. He  informed  me  that  he  had  theories  of  his  own  in 
regard  to  breeding,  whereby  he  thought  he  could  breed  a 
Beagle  for  practical  use  and  at  the  same  time  have  it  show 
more  beauty  points  than  the  Beagle  bred  to  the  standard  of 
the  American  Beagle  Club  as  given  herein..  He  wanted 
a  short,  fine,  silky  coat,  and  asked  for  my  views  in  the 
matter.  Regarding  coat,  I  gave  them  practically  as  above 
stated.  A  short  time  afterward  I  received  another  letter 
from  him,  from  which  I  quote  verbatim,  for  the  benefit  of 
any  such  as  may  be  inclined  as  he  was: 

DEAR  SIR:  I  thank  you  very  much  for  your  extended  reply  to  my  sug- 
gestion about  breeding  Beagles  a  little  finer.  My  notion  was  that  they  could 
be  bred  to  look  more  stylish  without  detracting  from  their  field  qualities;  but 
I  have  no  more  to  say.  A  hunt  I  had  yesterday  demonstrated  the  absolute 
correctness  of  the  present  standard.  I  think  I  shall  have  to  tell  you  of  it.  An 
old  hunting  friend  of  mine  here  (in  Maryland)  has  a  strain  of  Beagles  he  is 
very  proud  of,  and  we  had  a  pair  of  them,  one  rough-coated  fellow,  and  a  pair 
of  year-old  youngsters,  hardly  broken.  He  says  his  are  Scotch  Beagles,  what- 
ever that  may  be.  They  are  very  small,  say  six  pounds  each,  and  have  fine, 
short  hair,  and  their  skin — little  beauties  to  look  at.  In  an  open  country  they 
do  very  well.  Yesterday  we  were  on  one  of  my  father's  farms  near  the  river, 
which  is  full  of  brier-patches  and  briery  thickets.  The  rahbits  are  plentiful, 
but  the  little  Scotchmen  were  literally  worthless.  In  an  hour  they  were  cut 
up  and  came  to  heel,  absolutely  refusing  to  work. 

The  one  with  a  dense  coat  and  a  brush  on  his  tail,  followed  by  the  brace 
of  puppies,  had  to  do  all  our  hunting  the  rest  of  the  day.  He  dodged  in  and  out 
of  the  briers  without  getting  a  mark,  while  the  blood  from  the  rat-tailed  brace 
made  them  look  as  if  their  throats  had  been  cut.  Hereafter  I  stand  by  the 
American  Beagle  Club's  standaid.  My  friend's  faith  was  shaken,  and  he 
wants  a  brush- tailed  pedigreed  dog  to  try  on  his  bitches  as  an  experiment. 


THE   BEAGLE   HOUND.  285 

He  lives  in  a  better-cultivated  end  of  the  country,  and  had  not  tried  his  much  in 
briers  before.  Since  the  brier  farms  are  the  natural  refuge  of  the  rabbits,  and 
afford  much  the  best  sport,  he  sees  that  a  tougher  Hound  is  more  useful.  The 
day's  experience  was  so  exactly  a  corroboration  of  your  letter,  I  quite  enjoy 
giving  it  to  you Very  truly, 

Also,  to  avoid  having  your  Beagle  cut  up  more  than  can 
be  avoided,  it  is  well  to  select  one  having  a  low  and  well- 
set  ear,  and  as  called  for  by  the  standard,  ' '  closely  framing 
and  inturned  to  the  cheek."  The  best-hung  ears  will 
spread  out  considerably  when  the  Hound  is  running,  and  a 
poorly  hung  and  high-set  one  will  be  greatly  exposed  to 
all  briers  and  thorns  within  reach.  Do  not  merely  have  in 
mind  an  ear  of  great  length.  The  shape  of  the  nose  or 
muzzle  is,  of  course,  no  positive  indication  of  the  scenting 
powers  of  its  possessor,  but  it  is  well  to  always  choose  the 
Hound  having  a  wide  muzzle  and  good  open  and  moist  nos- 
trils, the  same  usually  being  indicative  of  fine  scenting 
powers,  a  more  important  factor  in  a  Hound  for  rabbit  or 
hare  hunting  than  any  other. 

I  can  not  say  that  I  agree  with  the  standard  in  pref er- 
ring a  "lull  and  prominent "  eye,  as  called  for,  for  the  same 
reason  that  a  fine,  soft  coat  and  exposed  ear  is  not  desired. 
Personally,  I  prefer  an  eye  somewhat  protected  and  not 
as  exposed  as  the  one  called  for,  as  my  experience  has 
taught  me  that  too  "full  and  prominent"  an  eye  is  easily 
injured. 

While  personally,  as  far  as  beauty  is  concerned,  I  admire 
a  black-and-tan  coat,  as  giving  a  Beagle  decidedly  the  ap- 
pearance of  being  ' '  a  miniature  Foxhound, ' '  I  consider  it 
desirable,  and  prefer,  for  work,  a  Hound  having  plenty  of 
white  on  him,  as  this  enables  one  to  readily  see  him  at 
a  distance.  Beagles,  like  other  Hounds,  arejnot  specially 
obedient  as  to  coming  in  when  called,  particularly  •  when 
there  appear  any  prospects  of  soon  getting  started  on  a 
warm  trail;  and  one  can  often  locate  his  Hounds  if  they 
possess  a  fair  amount  of  white,  when  otherwise  they  could 
not  be  seen,  and  one  can  then  get  them,  if  desired,  when 
otherwise  he  could  not. 


286  THE  AMERICAN   BOOK   OF  THE  DOG. 

As  I  stated  above,  the  question  of  size  is  one  on  which, 
there  is  a  diversity  of  opinion.  I  shall  not  argue  the  question 
here,  or  give  my  views  either  for  or  against  the  large  or  small 
Beagle,  but  will  say,  for  the  benefit  of  the  novice,  or  inex- 
perienced who  may  contemplate  purchasing  Beagles,  that  it 
is  usually  a  safe  method,  when  lacking  practical  knowledge 
or  experience,  to  be  governed  by  the  choice  of  what  the 
majority  would  prefer  or  select.  The  great  majority  of  our 
practical  Beagle  men,  who  use  their  Beagles  for  field  pur- 
poses, such  as  the  late  General  Rowett,  Pottinger  Dorsey, 
F.  C.  Phoebus,  of  the  Somerset  Kennels,  A.  H.  Wakefield, 
Louis  Smith,  Dr.  C.  E.  Nichols,  W.  F.  Rutter,  W.  S. 
Clark,  George  Laick,  and  others,  prefer  what  is  com- 
paratively speaking  the  large  Beagle;  by  that  is  com- 
monly meant  a  Beagle  close  in  height  to  the  limit  allowed 
by  the  American  Beagle  Club's  standard — fifteen  inches. 
The  writer  himself  prefers  this  last-mentioned  type  of 
Hound,  and  contends  that  where  a  Hound  of  a  certain  speed 
is  desired  it  is  preferable  to  obtain  it  in  a  comparatively 
large  Hound  than  in  a  smaller  one,  as  the  former,  necessa- 
rily, will  be  built  more  on  the  lines  of  endurance  than  those 
of  speed,  while  the  latter  will  be  built  more  on  the  lines  of 
speed  than  endurance,  and  while  the  desired  speed  is  ob- 
tained in  either,  the  former  will  combine  it  with  the  greater 
endurance  and  staying  powers — a  most  important  requisite 
in  a  Hound.  Thus,  if  a  twelve-inch  and  fifteen-inch  Hound 
are  bred  to  hunt  at  about  a  certain  pace,  the  latter  must  be 
a  Hound  of  more  substance  and  bottom  than  the  former  or 
it  will  be  the  speedier;  and,  as  a  result,  while  it  has  the 
desired  speed,  it  also  combines  the  power  to  hunt  longer 
than  the  former. 

STANDARD   AND   POINTS    OF   JUDGING  THE   BEAGLE. 

Value.  Value. 

Skull 5     Ribs 5 

Ears 15    Fore  legs  and  feet 10 

Eyes 10    Hips,  thighs,  and  hind  legs 10 

Muzzle,  jaws,  and  lips 5    Tail 5 

Neck : 5    Coat 5 

Shoulders  and  chest 10 

Back  and  loins .15  Total  .                                  . .  100 


THE   BEAGLE   HOUND.  287 

Standard  and  scale  of  points  adopted  by  the  American 
Beagle  Club,  and  indorsed  by  all  the  leading  shows: 

Head. — The  skull  should  be  moderately  domed  at  the 
occiput,  with  the  cranium  broad  and  full.  The  ears  set  on 
low,  long,  and  fine  in  texture,  the  forward  or  front  edge 
closely  framing  and  inturned  to  the  cheek,  rather  broad  and 
rounded  at  the  tips,  with  an  almost  entire  absence  of  erect- 
ile power  at  their  origin. 

The  eyes  full  and  prominent,  rather  wide  apart,  soft  and 
lustrous,  brown  or  hazel  in  color.  The  orbital  processes  well 
developed.  The  expression  gentle,  subdued,  and  pleading. 

The  muzzle  of  medium  length,  squarely  cut,  the  stop 
well  defined.  The  jaws  should  be  level.  Lips  either  free 
from  or  with  moderate  flews.  Nostrils  large,  moist,  and 
open. 

Defects:  A  flat  skull,  narrow  across  the  top  of  head, 
absence  of  dome.  Ears  short,  set  on  too  high,  or  when  the 
dog  is  excited  rising  above  the  line  of  the  skull  at  their 
points  of  origin,  due  to  an  excess  of  erectile  power.  Ears 
pointed  at  tips,  thick  or  boardy  in  substance,  or  carried  out 
from  cheek,  showing  a  space  between.  Eyes  of  a  light  or 
yellow  color.  Muzzle  long  and  snipy.  Pig- jaws  or  the 
reverse,  known  as  under-shot.  Lips  showing  deep,  pendu- 
lous flews. 

Disqualifications:  Eyes  close  together,  small,  beady, 
and  Terrier-like. 

Neck  and  throat. — Neck  rising  free  and  light  from  the 
shoulders,  strong  in  substance,  yet  not  loaded,  of  medium 
length.  The  throat  clean  and  free  from  folds  of  skin;  a 
slight  wrinkle  below  the  angle  of  the  jaw,  however,  may  be 
allowable. 

Defects:  A  thick,  short,  cloddy  neck,  carried  on  a  line 
with  the  top  of  the  shoulder.  Throat  showing  dewlap  and 
folds  of  skin  to  a  degree  termed  "throatiness." 

Shoulders  and  chest. — Shoulders  somewhat  declining, 
muscular,  but  not  loaded,  conveying  the  idea  of  freedom  of 
action,  with  lightness,  activity,  and  strength.  Chest  mod- 
erately broad  and  full. 


288  THE   AMERICAN   BOOK    OF   THE   DOG. 

Defects:  Upright  shoulders  and  a  disproportionately 
wide  chest. 

Back,  loin,  and  ribs. — Back  short,  muscular,  and  strong. 
Loin  broad  and  slightly  arched,  and  the  ribs  well  sprung, 
giving  abundant  lung-room. 

Defects:  A  long  or  swayed  back,  a  fiat,  narrow  loin,  or 
a  flat,  constricted  rib. 

Fore  legs  and  feet. — Fore  legs  straight,  with  plenty  of 
bone.  Feet  close,  iirm,  and  either  round  or  hare-like  in 
form. 

Defects:  Out  at  elbows.  Knees  knuckled  over  or  for- 
ward, or  bent  backward.  Feet  open  and  spreading. 

Hips,  thighs,  hind  legs,  and  feet. — Hips  strongly  mus- 
cled, giving  abundant  propelling  power.  Stifles  strong  and 
well  let  down.  Hocks  firm,  symmetrical,  and  moderately 
bent.  Feet  close  and  firm. 

Defects:     Cow-hocks  and  open  feet. 

Tail. — The  tail  should  be  carried  gaily,  well  up,  and  with 
medium  curve,  rather  short  as  compared  with  the  size  of 
the  dog,  and  clothed  with  a  decided  brush. 

Defects:     A  long  tail,  with  a  tea-pot  curve. 

Disqualifications:  A  thinly  haired,  rattish  tail,  with 
entire  absence  of  brush. 

Coat.—  Moderately  coarse  iii  texture,  and  of  good  length. 

Disqualifications:     A  short,  close,  and  nappy  coat. 

Height. — The  meaning  of  the  term  "Beagle"  (a  word  of 
Celtic  origin,  and  in  old  English  Begele),  is  small,  little. 
The  dog  was  so  named  from  his  diminutive  size.  Your 
committee,  therefore,  for  the  sake  of  consistency,  and  that 
the  Beagle  shall  be  in  fact  what  his  name  implies,  strongly 
recommend  that  the  height  line  shall  be  sharply  drawn  at 
fifteen  inches,  and  that  all  dogs  exceeding  that  height  shall 
be  disqualified  as  overgrown  and  outside  the  pale  of  recog- 
nition. 

Color. — All  Hound  colors  are  admissible.  Perhaps  the 
most  popular  is  black,  white,  and  tan.  Next  in  order  is 
the  lemon  and  white,  the  blue  and  lemon  mottles;  then  fol- 
low the  solid  colors,  such  as  black- and- tan,  tan,  lemon, 


THE   BEAGLE  HOUND.  289 

fawn,  etc.  This  arrangement  is  of  course  arbitrary,  the 
question  being  one  governed  entirely  by  fancy.  The  colors 
first  named  form  the  most  lively  contrast  and  blend  better 
in  the  pack,  the  solid  colors  being  somber  and  monotonous 
to  the  eye.  It  is  not  intended  to  give  a  point  value  to  color 
in  the  scale  for  judging,  as  before  said,  all  true  Hound  colors 
being  correct.  The  foregoing  remarks  on  the  subject  are 
therefore  simply  suggestive. 

General  appearance. — A  miniature  Foxhound,  solid  and 
big  for  his  inches,  with  the  wear-and-tear  look  of  the  dog 
that  can  last  in  the  chase  and  follow  his  quarry  to  the 
death. 

NOTE. — Dogs  possessing  such  serious  faults  as  are  enu- 
merated under  the  heading  of  "Disqualifications"  are 
under  the  grave  suspicion  of  being  of  impure  blood. 

Under  the  heading  of  ' '  Defects ' '  objectionable  features 
are  indicated,  such  departures  from  the  standard  not,  how- 
ever, impugning  the  purity  of  the  breeding. 

In  this  standard  it  will  be  observed  that  the  head  is 
scored  thirty-five  points,  which  is  the  same  number  allowed 
for  the  body.  In  the  standards  for  the  various  breeds  of 
bird  dogs  it  has  been  deemed  proper  by  all  the  breeders  to 
allow  a  much  less  number  of  points  for  the  head  than  for 
the  body,  as  certainly  a  good  body  is  of  much  greater  im- 
portance in  assisting  a  dog  to  be  a  good  or  successful  hunter 
than  a  correspondingly  typical  head  is. 

In  a  Hound,  the  difference  of  importance  between  the 
head  and  body  should  be  more  marked,  as  not  only  from 
the  nature  of  his  work  does  a  Hound  rely  on  his  natural 
instinct  to  pursue  and  kill  his  game,  and  not  require  the 
mental  faculties  necessary  in  a  bird  dog,  but  it  is  of  more 
importance  that  his  running  and  staying  powers  should  be 
superior,  as  his  work  admits  of  no  rest  or  let-up  until  the 
game  is  captured. 

I  do  not  mean  to  convey  the  impression  that  I  do  not 
consider  a  typical  head  of  importance,  as  in  no  breed  more 
than  in  a  Beagle  does  the  head  give  character  to  the  dog; 

19 


290  THE  AMERICAN   BOOK   OF  THE  DOG. 

and  no  one  can  admire  Hound  character  in  a  Beagle  more 
than  I  do. 

I  further  claim  that  in  assigning  the  numerical  scale  of 
points  in  the  standard,  symmetry  should  be  considered  and 
allotted  a  certain  number  of  points.  The  same  is  illustrated 
in  the  fact  that  were  two  Hounds  to  be  taken  and  scored, 
both  scoring  the  same  number  of  points,  and  one  Hound 
should  happen  to  be  very  nicely  and  symmetrically  built, 
and  the  other  out  of  proportion,  say,  for  instance,  short  on 
the  fore  legs  and  long  in  the  loin,  the  former  would  un- 
doubtedly be  selected,  even  if  scoring  a  point  or  two  less 
than  the  latter,  as  it  would  be  evident,  as  far  as  appearances 
went,  that  the  former  would  be  able  to  stand  more  work. 

While  the  sentiments  expressed  in  the  foregoing  article 
are  those  of  the  writer,  individually,  I  may  add  they  are 
the  same  as  have  appeared  in  former  articles  by  myself,  and 
which  I  have  submitted  to  several  of  our  most  prominent 
practical  authorities  on  the  breed,  and,  they  tell  me,  they 
are,  practically,  the  views  held  by  themselves. 


THE  IRISH  WATER  SPANIEL. 


BY  P.  T.  MADISON. 

of  the  greatest,  if  not  the  greatest,  retrievers  of 
which  we  have  any  knowledge  is  the  Irish  Water 
Spaniel.  Especially  is  this  true  of  the  species  from 
the  south  of  Ireland. 

The  breed  consists  of  two  distinct  varieties,  peculiar  to 
the  north  and  south  of  Ireland.  The  northern  dog  has 
short  ears,  with  little  feather  either  on  them  or  on  the  legs, 
but  with  a  considerable  curl  in  his  coat.  In  color  he  is 
generally  liver,  but  with  more  or  less  white,  which  some- 
times predominates  so  as  to  make  him  decidedly  white 
and  liver. 

The  south  country  Irish  Water  Spaniel  is,  on  the  con- 
trary, invariably  of  a  pure  liver-color.  Ears  long  and  well 
feathered,  being  often  twenty-four  inches  from  point  to 
point,  and  the  whole  coat  consisting  of  short,  crisp  curls. 
Body  long,  low,  and  strong;  tail  round  and  carried  slightly 
down,  but  straight,  without  any  feather.  Almost  all  of  the 
importations  to  America  are  from  the  latter-named  species. 
The  importers  and  breeders  of  America  have  endeavored  to 
keep  the  breed  pure,  and  through  their  efforts  this  country 
can  now  boast  ,of  as  fine  specimens  as  can  be  found  any- 
where in  the  world. 

The  writer  has  in  his  kennel  a  dog,  now  three  years  old, 
by  Count  Bendigo,  out  of  Foam,  which  is  pronounced  by 
persons  well  posted  on  this  breed  a  typical  specimen;  there- 
fore, in  the  absence  of  anything  better,  I  will  use  the  meas- 
urements of  this  dog  in  giving*  a  description  of  my  ideal 
of  the  breed. 

Height,  twenty -four  inches  at  the  shoulder;  weight,  fif- 
ty-five pounds;  head  capacious,  forehead  prominent,  face 

(291) 


292  THE   AMERICAN   BOOK    OF   THE  DOG. 

from  eyes  and  ears  down  perfectly  smooth;  ears  twenty-one 
inches  from  point  to  point  of  leather,  and  twenty-five  inches 
from  point  to  point  of  feather.  The  head  is  crowned  with 
a  well-defined  top-knot,  which  stands  erect,  and  is  not  strag- 
gling across,  like  that  of  the  common  rough  water  dog,  but 
comes  down  in  a  peak  on  the  forehead,  giving  the  head  and 
face  much  of  the  appearance  of  a  merino  sheep.  His  body 
is  covered  with  small  crisp  curls,  which  extend  along  the 


IRISH   WATER   SPANIEL-DENNIS   O'DONOGHUE. 
Owned   by  Mr.  C.  B.   Rodes,   Moberly,   Mo. 

tail  about  three  inches.  From  there  to  the  sting  the  tail  is 
smooth.  His  color  is  pure  liver. 

The  standard  as  adopted  by  the  English  Spaniel  Club, 
hereinafter  given,  meets  my  approval,  except  as  to  the  top- 
knot, which  in  my  judgment  should  not  fall  over  the  eyes, 
but  should  stand  erect. 

Mr.  J.  S.  Skidmore,  a  noted  English  breeder  of  Irish 
Water  Spaniels,  pays  this  well-deserved  tribute  to  the  good 
qualities  of  the  breed: 

To  a  sportsman  of  limited  means,  or  one  who  is  not  prepared  to  keep 
a  team  of  dogs,  the  Irish  Water  Spaniel  is  the  most  useful  dog  he  can  have, 


THE   IRISH    WATER   SPANIEL.  293 

inasmuch  as  he  can  be  made  to  perform  the  duties  of  Pointer,  Setter,  Retriever, 
and  Spaniel;  but,  as  his  name  implies,  he  is  peculiarly  fitted  by  temperament 
and  by  a  water-resisting  coat  for  the  arduous  duties  required  by  a  sportsman 
whose  proclivities  lie  in  the  direction  of  wild  fowl  shooting.  In  this  branch  of 
sport  they  have  no  equal,  being  able  to  stand  any  amount  of  hardship;  this, 
combined  with  an  indomitable  spirit,  leads  them  into  deeds  of  daring  from 
which  many  dogs  would  shrink.  Many  are  the  feats  recorded  of  their  pluck, 
sagacity,  and  intelligence.  For  a  well  bred  and  trained  specimen  no  sea  is  too 
rough,  no  pier  too  high,  and  no  water  too  cold;  even  if  he  have  to  break  the 
ice  at  every  step,  he  is  not  discouraged';  and  day  after  day  will  repeat  the  ardu- 
ous task,  As  a  companion  for  a  lady  or  gentleman  the  Irish  Water  Spaniel  has 
no  equal,  while  a  well-behaved  dog  of  the  breed  is  worth  a  whole  mint  of  toys 
to  the  children.  He  will  allow  the  little  ones  to  pull  him  about  by  the  ears, 
will  roll  over  and  over  with  them,  will  fetch  their  balls  as  often  as  thrown  for 
him,  and  will  act  as  their  guard  in  times  of  danger. 

So  good  an  authority  as  Mr.  J.  H.  Whitman,  of  Chicago, 
says: 

I  have  no  hesitation  in  saying  to  the  sportsman  who  desires  a  really  first- 
class  retriever  for  wild  fowls,  there  is  none  superior,  if  equal,  to  the  Irish  Water 
Spaniel  for  retrieving  ducks,  brant,  geese,  etc.,  from  land  or  water.  I  never 
saw  a  dog  that  seemed  to  enter  into  the  sport  with  more  zeal,  and  on  whom 
cold  water  had  so  little  effect.  I  have  seen  them  retrieve  ducks  when  ice 
would  form  on  their  coats  on  reaching  shore;  still  they  were  always  ready  to 
go.  I  never  saw  more  intelligence  in  any  breed  of  dogs;  they  can  be  taught 
tricks  as  easily  as  a  Poodle.  They  soon  learn  that  a  duck  shot  dead  and 
falling  in  the  water  can  be  retrieved  at  any  time,  and  where  two  are  dropped, 
one  dead  and  one  wounded,  the  Irish  Water  Spaniel  invariably  goes  for  the 
wounded  one  first.  There  is  no  dog  that  is  so  natural  a  retriever  or  so  easily 
broken  as  the  pure  Irish  Water  Spaniel. 

I  would  advise  parties  owning  one  of  these  dogs  that 
they  expect  to  use  as  a  retriever  on  game,  not  to  teach  him 
any  tricks,  as  I  have  always  observed  that  a  trick-dog  was 
good  for  nothing  else. 

In  training  the  Irish  Water  Spaniel  for  shooting  pur- 
poses, you  should  first  instill  into  his  mind  obedience,  and 
when  that  is  fully  accomplished  your  dog  is  broken,  as  it  is 
as  natural  for  him  to  retrieve,  from  land  or  water,  as  it  is 
for  a  Pointer  or  Setter  to  point.  I  have  my  dog  broken  to 
go  as  soon  as  the  shot  is  fired.  In  this  way  I  lose  few,  if 
any,  wounded  birds;  while,  on  the  contrary,  if  the  dog  is 
broken  to  drop  to  shot,  your  wounded  duck  or  snipe  often 
gets  away  before  the  dog  is  ordered  on. 


294  THE   AMERICAN   BOOK    OF   THE  DOG. 

In  quail-shooting,  a  dog  is  trained  to  drop  to  shot,  be- 
cause other  birds  often  remain  within  shooting  distance 
after  the  gun  has  been  fired,  and  if  the  dog  were  allowed  to 
break  shot  he  would  likely  flush  many  of  them  while  your 
gun  was  empty.  But  as  all  ducks  and  snipes  take  wing  as 
soon  as.  they  hear  the  report  of  a  gun,  you  run  no  such 
chances  in  that  class  of  shooting;  hence,  in  order  that  you 
may  secure  all  your  wounded  birds,  I  advise  you  to  teach 
your  Irish  Water  Spaniel  to  break  shot. 

On  the  subject  of  training  the  Irish  Water  Spaniel,  Mr. 
Whitman  says: 

Commence — if  the  puppy  is  precocious— at  three  months  ,old.  First  throw 
a  ball  or  roll  of  cloth,  or  any  soft  substance,  calling  his  attention  to  it  as  it 
passes  from  }~our  hand;  if  he  does  not  bring  it  the  first  time,  he  may  the  second 
or  third.  If  he  does  not,  let  him  go  for  that  time;  he  is  too  young  to  force, 
but  will  soon  begin  to  understand  what  is  wanted  and  perform  more  to  your 
wish.  Try  him  twice  a  day,  but  not  long  at  a  time;  teach  him  to  come  to  you 
when  called;  at  first  he  may  not  come;  put  a  cord  round  his  neck,  or,  if  he 
wears  a  collar,  attach  cord  to  that.  Now  call  him;  if  he  does  not  come,  pull 
him  to  you,  pet  him,  let  him  go,  and  call  him  again;  if  he  refuse  to  come, 
bring  him  to  you  again  with  the  cord.  By  following  this  course  he  will  soon 
learn  that  you  are  his  master,  and  will  obey  you.  Now  mak6  him  charge  or 
lie  down;  say  "  Charge,"  "Drop,"  or  any  word  you  like,  but  invariably  use  the 
same  word  and  raise  the  hand.  As  at  first  he  neither  understands  the  mean- 
ing of  the  word  nor  the  uplifted  hand,  you  should  take  his  fore  legs  and  pull 
them  from  under  him  with  one  hand  while  you  press  down  his  hind  quarters 
with  the  other,  using  at  the  same  time  the  word  at  which  you  desire  he  should 
lie  down.  When  he  will  remain  in  the  position  in  which  you  have  placed 
him,  looking  toward  you,  raise  the  hand  and  repeat  the  word  as  often  51  s  he 
offers  to  move.  In  a  short  time  he  will  do  this  seemingly  well,  but  as  this  is  a 
very  important  lesson,  continue  it  for  days  and  weeks  until  he  becomes  so  per- 
fect that  at  your  whistle  or  word  of  command  he  will  look  at  you  and  drop 
instantly  at  uplifted  hand.  Many  dogs  want  to  come  to  you  before  they  drop, 
but  insist  on  their  dropping  where  they  first  get  the  signal  to  do  so.  Easy 
enough  said,  but  how  shall  it  be  done?  My  way  is  to  take  the  dog  back  to  the 
place  where  he  was  ordered  to  charge,  walking  backward  from  him,  with 
hand  raised,  returning  him  to  the  spot  from  which  he  started  every  time  until 
he  remains  us  desired. 

Having  taught  him  to  do  this  well,  take  a  well-trained  dog  out  with  him; 
charge  both,  the  older  one  in  the  rear  of  the  puppy;  walk  away  from  them  as 
before;  call  the  older  one  by  name,  when  he  will  come,  and  undoubtedly  the 
puppy  will  come  too,  but  he  must  be  taken  back  until  he  is  perfect  in  this. 
The  importance  of  this  is,  should  you  be  hunting  with  some  friend  whose  dog 
is  not  well  broken  and  runs  in  at  the  report  of  the  gun,  your  dog — if  so  trained 


THE   IRISH   WATER   SPANIEL.  295 

—will  not  move,  even  if  he  is  passed  by  the  other  dog.  Or  you  may  see  game 
to  which  you  desire  to  creep;  you  can  then  leave  the  dog  behind  you. 

To  teach  him  to  follow  at  heel,  attach  the  cord  to  the  puppy;  say  "Heel!" 
Carry  your  whip  in  hand,  and  should  he  attempt  to  get  in  front  of  you,  touch 
him  lightly  on  the  nose;  say  at  the  same  time  "Heel!"  Another  way  is  to 
couple  him  to  a  broken  dog,  using  the  same  means  and  word  should  he  try  to 
get  ahead.  Having  taught  him  to  retrieve  anything  you  may  throw  for  him 
when  he  can  see  it,  now  throw  it  in  high  grass  or  weeds,  or  in  fact  any  place 
where  he  can  not  see  it,  and  bid  him  "fetch."  He  will  begin  to  look  for  it,  and 
unless  he  should  find  it  at  once,  you  should  encourage  him  to  find  it  by,  if 
necessary,  going  with  him,  but  do  not  pick  it  up  yourself;  have  him  do  that 
and  follow  you  with  it  in  his  mouth.  It  is  better  to  do  this  with  a  bird,  say  a 
pigeon  or  a  duck,  as  I  have  seen  dogs  that  would  bring  a  ball,  roll  of  cloth, 
etc.,  well,  that  at.  first  would  not  touch  a  bird.  I  prefer  a  bird  with  which  to 
teach  them  to  retrieve. 

Having  now  taught  him  to  charge,  retrieve,  heel,  and  come  at  whistle,  you 
should  take  him  to  some  stream,  where  the  water  is  not  too  deep,  to  start  with, 
throwing  into  the  water  the  object  he  is  in  the  habit  of  retrieving  on  land  and 
sending  him  for  it.  I  have  not  seen  one  puppy  that  would  not  go  for  it  at 
once,  especially  if  the  water  were  warm.  It  is  better  to  teach  the  puppy  this 
work  in  the  summer  or  early  fall,  before  the  weather  is  too  cold. 

Your  dog  is  now  ready  for  a  lesson  in  duck-shooting.  Get  on  some  point 
of  land  where  birds  pass,  and  shoot  one,  having  it  fall  as  near  shore  as  possi- 
ble; send  him  for  it,  and  encourage  him  if  he  brings  it  nicely.  You  should 
endeavor  to  have  him  watch  birds  as  they  fly  past;  it  will  soon  teach  him  to 
watch  them  as  they  fall  and  mark  well  the  spot,  so  he  can  go  direct  to  them.  I 
would  advise  you  to  accustom  him  to  the  sound  of  the  gun  from  his  youth, 
until  you  begin  to  work  him  on  game,  commencing  with  percussion  caps  or  a 
small  charge  of  powder — no  shot.  When  he  shows  that  for  him  the  report  of 
a  gun  has  no  terror,  you  are  all  right;  he  will  not  be  gun-shy.  If  he  is  a  little 
timid,  don't  despair,  for  he— finding  he  is  not  hurt  by  the  report — if  properly 
handled,  will  come  out  all  right.  If  you  go  with  him  in  boat,  have  him  charge, 
and  do  not  allow  him  to  rise  until  ordered.  If  he  will  not  mind  promptly  the 
word  "  charge,"  tie  a  rope  across  the  boat  from  rowlock  to  rowlock,  and  fasten 
him  in  the  center  so  that  he  can  not  get  out.  Now  shoot,  if  possible,  some 
ducks,  while  he  is  so  confined;  when  the  gun  is  fired,  should  he  attempt  to 
move,  say  "Charge!"  and  compel  him  to  go  down  promptly.  Repeat  this 
until  he  is  perfect  in  not  attempting  to  leave  the  boat  until  ordered.  He  must 
be  kept  in  strict  obedience;  do  not  allow  him  to  disobey  without  correcting 
him  at  once.  In  your  ardor  to  secure  the  game,  don't  forget  that  you  have  a 
dog  for  that  purpose. 

I  have  never  seen  the  weather  or  water  too  cold  for  my 
dog  to  take  great  pleasure,  apparently,  in  his  work.  I  have 
worked  him  from  early  morning  till  late  at  night,  in  slush 
ice,  and  he  would  not  suffer  in  the  least.  The  under-coat 
of  this  breed  is  similar  to  that  of  the  beaver  or  musk-rat, 


296  THE   AMERICAN   BOOK    OF   THE   DOG. 

and  is  saturated  with  an  oily  substance  that  almost  thor- 
oughly protects  them  from  wet  and  cold. 

To  fully  appreciate  the  pleasure  of  duck  and  snipe  shoot- 
ing, the  sportsman  should  have  a  well-broken  Irish  Water 
Spaniel.  I  would  take  just  as  much  pleasure  in  quail- 
shooting  without  my  Setter  or  Pointer  as  I  would  in  duck 
or  snipe  shooting  without  my  Retriever.  I  predict  for  the 
Irish  Water  Spaniel  a  bright  future,  as  he  has  only  to  be 
known  to  be  appreciated,  and  he  is  becoming  better  known 
every  year. 

This  is  a  noble  dog,  and  should  be  developed  to  the 
greatest  possible  perfection;  and  in  order  to  stimulate  effort 
in  this  direction,  I  believe  that  a  Retriever  club  should  be 
formed  in  America  for  the  purpose  of  holding  field  trials 
on  some  of  our  numerous  lakes,  rivers,  or  marshes,  to  which 
all  members  of  the  Retriever  family  should  be  eligible. 
It  would  be  as  easy  to  formulate  rules  for  the  government 
of  trials  of  this  character  as  it  was  for  the  originators  of 
field  trials  for  Pointers  and  Setters  to  evolve  their  rules. 
While  our  first  efforts  in  this  direction  would  doubtless  be 
crude,  experience  would  soon  teach  us;  and  by  bringing  all 
the  different  breeds  together,  we  could  in  a  short  time 
determine  which  is  best  fitted  to  perform  the  various 
kinds  of  work.  One  breed  might  be  found  far  superior 
to  another  in  working  in  open,  rough,  and  large  bodies 
of  water,  while  another  would  excel  in  the  weeds  and 
grasses  of  the  marsh. 

These  questions  can  only  be  settled  by  actual  competi- 
tion, and  I  am  satisfied  that  great  good  would  result  from 
frequent  trials,  as  the  breeders  would  take  great  pride  in 
possessing  a  field- trial  winner,  and  in  the  future  would 
breed  with  the  sole  object  of  producing  the  best  performers. 
By  this  means  the  value  of  each  breed  would  be  greatly 
enhanced. 

I  can  remember  when  five  dollars  was  a  big  price  for  a 
Pointer  or  Setter  puppy,  and  twenty-five  dollars  an  enor- 
mous price  for  a  broken  dog.  Perfection  in  breeding, 
brought  about  largely  by  field  trials,  has  enhanced  the  value 


THE   IEISH   WATEE   SPANIEL. 


297 


of  the  Setter  and  Pointer  so  much  that  often  we  hear  of  a 
fine  performer  bringing  a  thousand  dollars  or  more. 

I  hope  to  see  a  Retriever  club  organized,  and  will  gladly 
assist  in  the  good  work.  I  will  devote  as  much  of  my  time 
as  I  can  spare  from  my  business  to  organizing  such  a  club, 
formulating  rules,  and  conducting  trials. 


IRISH    WATER    SPANIEL   PUPPIES. 


The  standard  and  scale  of  points  of  the  Irish  Water 
Spaniel  are  as  follows: 


POSITIVE    POINTS. 

Head  and  jaw  . « , 10 

Eyes 5 

Top-knot 5 

Ears 10 

Neck 7i  Lank,  open,  or  woolly  coat 10 

Body „ c . . .  7i  A  natural  sandy,  light  coat 15 


NEGATIVE   POINTS. 

Cording,  or  tags  of  dead  or  mat- 
ted hair 20 

Mustache  or  Poodle  hair  on 
cheek  ....  .10 


Fore  legs , 5 

Hind  legs 5 

Feet 5 

Stern 10 

Coat 15 

General  appearance 15 

Total..  .100 


Furnishing  of  tail  more  than  half 

way  down  to  sting 5 

Setter  feathering  on  legs 15 

White  patch  on  chest 15 

Total . .  .90 


DISQUALIFICATIONS. 

Total  absence  of  top-knot. 

A  fully  feathered  tail. 

Any  white  patch  on  any  part  of  dog,  except  a  small  one  on  chest  or  toe. 


298  TJJE  AMEEICAN   BOOK   OF  THE  DOG. 

Head. — Capacious  skull,  rather  raised  in  dome,  and 
fairly  wide,  showing  large  brain  capacity.  The  dome  ap- 
pears higher  than  it  really  is,  from  its  being  surmounted  by 
the  crest  or  top-knot,  which  should  grow  down  to  a  point 
between  the  eyes,  leaving  the  temple  smooth. 

Eyes. — Highly  intelligent,  amber-colored.  Dark  is  gen- 
erally preferred. 

Nose. — Dark  liver-colored,  rather  large,  and  well-devel- 
oped. 

Ears. — Set  on  rather  low.  In  a  full-sized  specimen  the 
leather  should  be  not  less  than  eighteen  inches,  and  with 
feather  about  twenty -four  inches.  The  feather  on  the  ear 
should  be  long,  abundant,  and  wavy. 

Neck. — Should  be  "  Pointer-like  "  —  i.  e.,  muscular, 
slightly  arched,  and  not  too  long.  It  should  be  strongly 
set  on  the  shoulders. 

Body  (including  size  and  symmetry). — Height  at  shoul- 
der from  twenty  to  twenty-four  inches,  according  to  sex 
and  strain;  body  fair-sized,  round,  barrel-shaped,  well 
ribbed  up.  When  wet  would  resemble  in  contour  that  of 
a  sporting-looking  Pointer. 

Shoulders  and  chest. — Chest  deep,  and  not  too  narrow. 
Shoulders  strong,  rather  sloping,  and  well  covered  with 
hard  muscle. 

Back  and  loin. — Back  strong;  loins  a  trifle  arched,  and 
powerful,  so  as  to  fit  them  for  the  heavy  work  of  beating 
through  sedgy,  muddy  sides  of  rivers. 

Hind  quarters. — Round  and  muscular,  and  slightly 
drooping  toward  the  set-on  of  the  stern. 

Stern.  — A.  "  whip-tail,"  thick  at  base  and  tapering  to  a 
u  sting."  The  hair  on  it  should  be  short,  straight,  and 
close-lying,  except  for  a  few  inches  from  its  root,  where  it 
gradually  merges  into  the  body  coat  in  some  short  curls. 

Feet  and  legs. — Fore  legs  straight,  well-boned.  They 
should  be  well  furnished  with  wavy  hair  all  round  and 
down  to  the  feet,  which  should  be  large  and  round.  Hind 
legs  stifle  long;  hock  set  low.  They  should  be  well  fur- 
nished except  from  the  hock  down  the  front. 


THE  IEISH   WATER   SPANIEL.  299 

Goat. — Neither  woolly  nor  lank,  but  should  consist  of 
short,  crisp  curls  right  up  to  the  stern.  Top-knot  should 
fall  well  over  the  eyes.  It  and  furnishing  of  ears  should  be 
abundant  and  wavy. 

Color. — Dark,  rich  liver,  or  puce  (to  be  judged  by  its 
original  color).  A  sandy,  light  coat  is  a  defect.  Total  ab- 
sence of  white  desirable;  any  except  a  little  on  chest  or  a 
toe  should  disqualify. 

General  appearance. — That  of  a  strong,  compact,  dash- 
ing-looking dog,  with  a  quaint  and  very  intelligent  aspect 
(the  light  rim  round  the  eye,  objected  to  by  some,  fre- 
quently adds  much  to  their  intelligent,  knowing  expres- 
sion). They  should  not  be  leggy,  as  power  and  endurance 
are  required  of  them  in  their  work.  Noisy  and  joyous 
when  out  for  a  spree,  but  mute  on  game. 

The  following  may  be  mentioned  among  the  many  promi- 
nent owners  and  breeders  of  Irish  Water  Spaniels  in  this 
country:  Charles  L.  Griffith,  82  Front  street,  New  York 
City;  John  R.  Daniels,  151  Ontario  street,  Cleveland,  Ohio; 
Hornell-Harmony  Kennels,  Hornellsville,  N.  Y. ;  Joseph 
Lewis,  Cannonsburgh,  Penn. ;  Milwaukee  Kennel  Club,  Mil- 
waukee, Wis. ;  Anderson  &  Kilpatrick,  229  Park  avenue, 
Chicago,  111.;  C.  B.  Rodes,  Moberly,  Mo.;  James  Dele- 
hewity,  134  Second  street,  Milwaukee,  Wis.;  George  H. 
Hill,  Madeira,  Ohio;  Dr.  James  F.  W.  Ross,  Toronto, 
Ontario;  J.  H.  Whitman,  Passenger  Department  Grand 
Trunk  Railway,  Chicago;  Andrew  Laidlaw,  Woodstock, 
Ontario;  Devonshire  Kennels,  Attica,  Ind.;  T.  Donoghue, 
La  Salle,  111.;  John  D.  Olcott,  Milwaukee,  Wis.;  P.  Tin- 
dolph,  Vincennes,  Ind.;  C.  H.  Hampson,  Denver,  Colo. 


(800) 


THE  ENGLISH  WATER  SPANIEL. 
BY  WILLIAM  A.  BRUETTE. 


Y  many  the  old  English  Water  Spaniel  is  considered 
extinct,  but  this  claim  I  can  not  allow,  for  scattered 
throughout  Great  Britain,  as  well  as  in  a  few 
instances  in  America,  are  perfect  specimens  of  the 
breed,  in  the  hands  of  sportsmen  who  know  their  true 
worth,  and  who  use  them  extensively  in  their  private  shoot- 
ing. Were  the  good  qualities  of  this  dog  better  known,  they 
would  be  very  popular  among  our  inland  duck-shooters. 

The  English  Water  Spaniel  is  historically  older  than  the 
Irish,  and  all  writers  on  canine  histiology,  since  the  four- 
teenth century,  have  described  him  with  more  or  less  care. 
Doctor  Caius  says:  "The  Water  Spaniel  is  that  kind  of  a 
dog  whose  service  is  required  in  fowling  upon  the  water- 
partially  through  a  natural  towardness  and  partially  by 
diligent  teaching  is  endued  with  that  property.  The  sort  is 
somewhat  big,  and  of  a  measurable  greatness,  having  long, 
rough,  and  curled  hair,  not  obtained  by  extraordinary 
trades,  but  given  by  nature's  appointment."  In  the  Gen- 
tleman" s  Recreation  a  similar  description  occurs.  In  the 
Sportsman's  Cabinet,  written  about  1802,  this  dog  is 
described  as  having  the  hair  long  and  naturally  curled, 
not  loose  and  shaggy;  and  the  engraving  by  Scott,  from  a 
drawing  by  Reinagale,  which  accompanies  the  article,  repre- 
sents a  medium-sized,  liver  and  white,  curly-coated  Spaniel, 
with  the  legs  feathered,  but  not  curled.  Youatt,  in  his 
"Book  of  the  Dog,"  has  a  wood-cut  showing  a  similar  type, 
but  says:  "The  Water  Spaniel  was  originally  from  Spain; 
the  pure  breed  has  been  lost,  and  the  present  dog  is  prob- 
ably descended  from  the  large  water  dog  and  the  English 
Setter." 

(301) 


302  THE  AMERICAN   BOOK    OF  THE  DOG. 

All  authorities  agree  that  the  Spaniel  came  originally 
from  Spain,  but  it  is  generally  admitted  that  none  exist  as 
imported,  without  alteration  by  mixture  with  allied  varie- 
ties. It  is  generally  agreed  that  the  English  Setter  sprung 
from  the  Land  Spaniel,  and  very  likely  the  dogs  referred 
to  by  Youatt  were  in  greater  part,  if  not  all,  Water  Spaniels. 
From  the  earliest  times,  the  English  Water  Spaniel  is  de- 
scribed as  differing  from  the  Land  Spaniel.  Edmond  De 
Langley,  in  the  k'Maister  of  Game,"  writes  of  the  Land 
Spaniel,  ' '  White  and  tawny  in  color,  and  not  rough- coated;' ' 
whereas  nearly  all  other  writers  describe  the  Water  Spaniel 
as  rough  and  curly  coated,  but  not  shaggy.  All  the  earlier 
writers  speak  of  a  large  and  a  small  Water  Spaniel,  and  I 
can  easily  conceive  that  two  sizes  would  naturally  result 
from  the  requirements  of  sportsmen  living  in  different 
localities.  The  bay  or  sea  shooter  requires  a  larger  and 
more  powerful  dog  than  the  inland  sportsman,  whose 
shooting  is  confined  to  the  smaller  lakes  and  streams, 
where  a  dog  weighing  from  twenty-five  to  forty  pounds 
can  work  the  willows,  reeds,  and  rice  to  much  better 
advantage  than  a  larger  animal,  and  is  more  easily  carried 
and  concealed. 

I  have  found  the  English  Water  Spaniel  extremely  intelli- 
gent, particularly  fond  of  the  water,  which  he  will  enter  by 
choice  in  all  weathers.  His  powers  of  swimming  and  diving 
are  immense;  he  works  through  mud,  rice,  and  weeds  seem- 
ingly with  as  much  ease  as  on  land,  while  his  keen  nose 
enables  him  to  scent  the  dead  or  wounded  duck  at  marvel- 
ously  long  distances.  He  will  work  out  the  hiding-place 
of  a  wounded  bird  with  a  perseverance  and  intelligence 
that  can  only  be  born  of  a  genuine  love  of  the  sport.  He 
requires  little  if  any  training,  and  seems  to  have  inherent 
a  desire  to  please  his  master  as  well  as  to  gratify  his  own 
love  of  the  sport.  He  will  frequently  mark  the  approach 
of  the  wild  fowl  before  the  hunter  sees  it;  will  crouch  down 
till  he  hears  the  report  of  the  gun,  when  he  is  all  anima- 
tion to  mark  the  fall  of  the  dead  or  wounded  duck.  He  is 
of  a  much  handsomer  appearance  than  either  the  Irish  or 


THE   ENGLISH   WATEK   SPANIEL.  303 

Chesapeake  Bay  dogs,  and  makes  an  excellent  companion 
at  home  as  well  as  in  the  field. 

The  points  of  the  English  Water  Spaniel  are  :  General 
appearance,  strong,  compact,  of  medium  size,  leggy  by 
comparison  with  the  Clumber,  Sussex,  or  Black  Field 
Spaniel,  and  showing  great  activity.  The  head  is  rather 
long;  the  brow  apparent,  but  not  very  prominent;  jaws 
fairly  long,  and  slightly  but  not  too  much  pointed;  the 
whole  face  and  skull  to  the  occiput  covered  with  short, 
smooth  hair,  and  no  fore-lock  as  in  the  Irish  Water  Spaniel. 
The  eyes  fairly  full,  but  not  watery;  clear,  brown-colored, 
with  an  intelligent,  beseeching  expression.  The  ears  long, 
rather  broad,  soft,  pendulous,  and  thickly  covered  with 
curly  hair  of  greater  length  than  that  on  the  body.  The 
neck  short,  thick,  and  muscular.  The  chest  capacious. 
The  barrel  stout,  and  the  shoulders  wide  and  strong.  The 
loins  strong.  The  buttocks  square,  and  thighs  muscular. 
The  legs  rather  long,  straight,  strong  of  bone,  well  clothed 
with  muscle;  and  the  feet  a  good  size,  rather  spreading, 
without  being  absolutely  splay-footed.  The  coat  over  the 
whole  upper  part  of  the  body  and  sides  thick  and  closely 
curled,  flatter  on  the  belly  and  under  the  legs,  which 
should,  however,  be  well  clad  at  the  back  with  feathery 
curls;  the  prevailing  color  is  liver  and  white,  but  whole 
liver,  black,  and  black  and  white,  are  also  described  by 
some  writers.  The  tail  is  usually  decked  rather  thick  and 
covered  with  curls. 

Appended  is  the  standard  and  points  of  judging  the 
English  Water  Spaniel  as  adopted  by  the  English  Water 
Spaniel  Club : 

Value.  Value. 

Head,  jaw,  and  eyes 20    Feet 5 

Ears...* 5    Stern 10 

Neck 5    Coat 15 

Body 10    General  appearance 10 

Fore  legs 10                                                                

Hind  legs 10           Total 100 

NEGATIVE   POINTS. 

Feather  on  stern 10 

Top-knot 10 

Total..  .  20 


304  THE   AMERICAN   BOOK   OF    THE   DOG. 

Head. — Long,  somewhat  straight,  and  rather  narrow; 
muzzle  rather  long,  and,  if  anything,  rather  pointed. 

Eyes.  — Small  for  the  size  of  the  dog. 

Ears. — Set  in  forward,  and  thickly  clothed  with  hair 
inside  and  out. 

Neck.—  Straight. 

Body  (including  size  and  symmetry). — Ribs  round,  the 
back  ones  not  very  deep. 

Nose. — Large. 

Shoulders  and  chest. — Shoulders  low,  and  chest  rather 
narrow^,  but  deep. 

Back  and  loin. — Strong,  but  not  clumsy. 

Hindquarters. — Long  and  straight;  rather  rising  toward 
the  stern  than  drooping,  which,  combined  with  the  low 
shoulder,  gives  him  the  appearance  of  standing  higher  be- 
hind than  in  front. 

Stern. — Docked  from  seven  inches  to  ten  inches,  accord- 
ing to  the  size  of  the  dog;  carried  a  little  above  the  level  of 
the  back,  but  by  no  means  high. 

Feet  and  legs. — Feet  well  spread,  large,  and  strong;  well 
clothed  with  hair,  especially  between  the  pads.  Legs  long 
and  strong;  the  stifles  well  bent. 

Coat. — Covered  either  with  crisp  curls  or  with  ringlets; 
no  top-knot,  but  the  close  curl  should  cease  on  the  top  of 
the  head,  leaving  the  face  perfectly  smooth  and  lean- 
looking. 

Color.  — Black  and  white,  liver  and  white,  or  self-colored 
black  or  liver.  The  pied  for  choice. 

General  appearance.  —  Sober-looking,  with  rather  a 
slouching  gait  and  a  general  independence  of  manner,  which 
is  thrown  aside  at  the  sight  of  a  gun. 


THE  CLUMBER  SPANIEL. 


BY  F.  H.  F.  MERCER  ("CLUMBER"). 


NOTHER  maner  of  Houndes  there  is  yat  byn  clepid  Houndis  for  ye 
hauke,  and  Spaynels  for  ye  nature  of  him  cometh  from  Spayn,  not- 
withstandyng  yat  ther  ben  many  in  other  countries;  and  soche 
Houndes  havyn  many  good  custumes  and  evel.  Also  a  f  aire  Hounde 
for  ye  hauke  should  have  a  greet  heade  and  greet  body,  and  a  faire 
hew,  white  or  tawne,  for  these  ben  ye  fairest,  and  of  suche  heve  ther  byn  corn- 
only  best. 

A  good  Spaynel  should  not  be  too  jough,  but  his  taile  should  be  rough. 
The  good  custumes  yat  soche  Houndis  havyn  byn  theese;  thei  loven  wel  thyr 
maistris,  and  folowe  hym  withe  out  losyng,  thoo  thei  be  in  greet  press  of  men, 
and  comonly  yie  goon  biff  ore  hure  maister  rennyng  and  playing  with  hur 
taile,  and  reyson  or  stertin  foules  and  wilde  beestis,  but  her  ryght  craft  is  of  ye 
perterich  and  of  ye  quail e.  It  is  a  good  thing  to  a  man  yat  hath  a  good  gos- 
hawke  or  tercelle,  or  sparhawke  for  ye  perterich,  to  have  soche  Houndes,  and 
also  when  thei  byn  taught  to  be  careful,  thei  byn  good  for  to  take  perterich 
and  ye  quaile  with  a  nette. 

Also  thei  byn  good  when  yei  ben  taught  to  swyme  and  to  be  good  for  ye 
revere,  and  for  fowles  when  thei  byn  dyved;  but  in  yat  other  side  yei  hav  many 
evil  condicions  aftere  ye  cqntrere  yat  yei  byn  comon  of;  for  a  centre  draweth 
to  two  natures  of  men  clepen  of  beestis  and  of  fowles,  and  as  men  clepyn 
Greihoundes  in  ende  of  Scotland  of  Britayn,  zizth  so  ye  Alamantez  and  ye 
Houndes  for  ye  hawke  cometh  out  Spayn  and  thei  dra wen  after  ye  nature  of  ye 
generation  of  which  thei  comen.  Houndis  for  ye  hawke  byn  fighters  and  grete 
baffers,  and  if  ye  lede  hem  on  huntyng  among  runnyng  Houndes,  what  beest 
that  ye  hunte  to,  she  shal  make  hure  come  out  for  thei  fayllen,  as  wThane  thei 
goon  a  right,  and  leden  ye  Houndes  about  and  makyn  hem  overshoot  and  faile. 
Also  if  ye  lede  Greihoundes  with  two  other  Hounde  for  ye  hawke,  yat  is  to 
say  a  Spaynel,  yif  he  se  gees,  kyn,  or  hors,  oxen  or  other  beestis,  he  wil  runne 
anoon  and  bygynne  to  baffe  at  hem,  and  bycause  of  hem  ye  Greihoundes  shal 
runne  therto  for  to  take  ye'  beest  thorgh  his  eggyng,  for  he  wil  make  al  the 
ryot  and  al  ye  harme. 

The  Houndes  for  ye  hawke  have  so  many  other  evyl  totches,  yat  but  yif  I 
had  a  goshawke  or  faucon,  or  hawkes  for  ye  ryvere,  or  sparhawke  for  ye  nette, 
I  wold  rievyr  have  non  namely  ther  as  I  shuld  hunte. — Extract  from  the  "Mais- 
ter of  Game"  by  Edmund  de  Langley,  born  A.  D.  1378. 

The  Spaniell  is  so  named  from  Spaine,  whence  they  came.  The  most  part 
of  their  skynnes  are  white,  and  if  they  are  marcked  with  any  spottes,  they  are 

2O  (305) 


306  THE  AMERICAN   BOOK    OF  THE   DOG. 

commonly  red. — Extract  from  "Dogges,"  by  Dr.  Johannes  Gains,  written  during 
the  reign  of  Queen  Elizabeth. 

It  has  ever  been  my  belief  that  the  dog  described  in  the 
foregoing  extracts  from  the  works  of  these,  the  two  oldest 
writers  on  the  canine  species,  is  identical  with  that  variety 
of  the  genus  Spaniel  now  known  as  the  Clumber.  When 
we  consider  the  crudeness  of  all  writings  descriptive  of  men 
and  things  in  those  early  days,  it  must  be  conceded  that  De 
Langley's  description  of  the  best  Hound  for  hawking  and 
for  the  "rivere"  fits  the  patrician  of  his  family  with  the 
most  remarkable  exactitude.  The  "Spaniell,"  he  writes, 
should  have  a  large  head  and  a  large  body,  with  not  too 
"jough"  (curly  or  wavy)  a  coat;  that  the  coloring  should 
be  "white  and  tawne"  (lemon),  and  that  the  tail 
should  be  "rough."  He  goes  on  to  enumerate  many 
traits  of  Clumber  character,  though  this  old  aristocrat  has 
during  the  lapse  of  four  centuries  arrived,  doubtless,  at  the 
conclusion  that  to  play  with  his  tail  is  beneath  such  dig- 
nity as  his,  and  therefore  has  given  over  the  practice  of  so 
frivolous  a  pastime. 

The  "bamng"  (barking)  propensity  with  which  he 
charges  them  has  certainly  not  been  transmitted  to  their 
presumed  descendants,  the  Clumbers,  as  they  are  the  most 
silent  of  dogs,  and  in  fact  are  entirely  mute  when  at  work. 
Still,  nothing  can  be  more  probable  than  that  their  patrons, 
the  Dukes  of  Newcastle,  finding  this  noisiness  to  be  an 
objectionable  feature,  as  it  undoubtedly  is,  bred  out  the 
noxious  habit  by  judicious  matings  of  the  more  silent 
specimens. 

Doctor  Caius  still  further  strengthens  their  claim  to  great 
antiquity,  for  though  the  markings  nowadays  recognized 
are  not  c '  red ' '  in  hue,  the  darker  shades  displayed  by  some 
individuals  might  certainly  be  so  denominated.  As  a  mat- 
ter of  fact,  the  writer  when  accompanied  by  Clumbers  of  the 
exactest  shades  of  lemon  and  orange  has  overheard  passers- 
by  remark  on  their  being  "white  dogs  with  red  ears." 
Then  again,  does  any  other  variety  of  the  genus  answer  the 
hereinbefore  quoted  descriptions  of  the  "Spaniells"  given 
by  both  De  Langley  and  Caius  ? 


THE   CLUMBER   SPANIEL. 


307 


From  the  former's  remarks  it  would  appear  that  this 
presumed  Clumber  is  not  only  the  original  Land  Spaniel, 
but  also  the  progenitor  of  the  Setter. 

In  Daniel's  "Rural  Sports"  we  learn  that  the  immediate 
ancestors  of  the  present  race  were  given  by  a  French  noble- 
man, the  Due  de  Nouailles,  to  a  Duke  of  Newcastle,  prob- 
ably about  two  centuries  ago.  The  name  is  derived  from  a 
seat  of  the  Dukes  of  Newcastle^  situated  in  Nottingham- 
shire, Clumber,  where  they  were  domiciled  from  the  outset. 


CLUMBER    SPANIEL— CHAMPION    JOHNNY. 
Owned  by  Clumber  Kennel  ( F.  H.  F.  Mercer),   Ottawa,  Canada. 

To  those  who  value  things  for  their  associations,  the 
Clumber  is  a  fit  object  for  appreciation,  as  from  the  outset 
his  associations  have  been  aristocratic  —  the  kennels  of 
dukes,  marquises,  earls,  barons,  baronets,  knights,  and  the 
leading  country  gentry  of  Great  Britain  and  Ireland,  not 
to  mention  those  of  royalty,  having  been  the  cradles  of  the 
breed. 

Specimens  are  but  rarely  met  with  in  America,  and  until 
of  late  years  were  scarce  even  in  England,  where  they  were 


308  THE  AMEKICAN   BOOK   OF   THE   DOG. 

almost  entirely  in  the  hands  of  noblemen  and  country  gen- 
tlemen, who  kept  them  on  their  estates  for  shooting  pur- 
poses. These  were  chary  of  disposing  of  surplus  stock  to 
any  but  their  immediate  friends,  who  in  turn  maintained 
them  for  their  private  uses.  Did  an  outsider,  therefore, 
desire  to  obtain  a  specimen,  he  could  procure  it  clandes- 
tinely from  the  game-keeper  only,  who  would  report  a 
puppy  as  having  been  destroyed,  whereas  he  had  sold  it  and 
pocketed  the  proceeds  of  his  dishonesty.  It  is  therefore 
not  difficult  of  comprehension  that  under  conditions  such 
as  these  but  few  were  disseminated  among  the  general 
public. 

But  all  this  is  changed  now,  and  pure-bred  Clumbers  are 
easily  to  be  got  in  England,  though  high-class  animals  are 
few  and  far  between  in  that  country,  as  elsewhere. 

That  they  were  prized  by  the  highest  class  of  sportsmen 
is  borne  witness  to  by  Colonel  Hamilton  in  his  "  Recollec- 
tions,"' which  are  of  shooting  incidents  in  the  early  days  of 
the  century.  He  writes:  "  A  Spaniel  known  as  the  Clum- 
ber breed — His  Grace  always  shooting  over  them  in  his 
woods — is  much  sought  after  by  sportsmen."  Then  he 
enumerates  their  many  excellences. 

This  extract  from  "The  Dog,"  the  work  of  the  late 
lamented  "Idstone,"  will  be  of  interest: 

The  best  pictures  of  the  dog  extant,  perhaps,  are  those  of  Clumbers,  for 
from  Bewick  to  Abraham  Cooper  we  had  few,  if  any,  painters,  except  Mor- 
land,  who  could  make  anything  better  than  a  map  of  the  dog;  and  norland's 
dogs  are  generally  Clumbers,  an-1  first-rate  specimens. 

I  have  no  doubt  that  some  good  English  Spaniels  existed  in  his  day,  for  I 
have  seen  a  good  picture  by  this  artist  of  snipe-shooting  in  the  snow,  where 
English  or  colored  Spaniels  are  employed;  but  evidently  the  Clumber  was  the 
dog  of  his  time,  as  it  will  be  of  all  time. 

Somewhere  about  1868-69,  a  fine  picture  by  F.  Wheatley,  A.  R.  A.,  of  the 
Duke  of  Newcastle,  was  exhibited  in  the  Portrait  Gallery  in  London,  and  was  at- 
tributed by  several  persons  to  Morland,  who  seldom,  if  ever,  finished  so  highly 
as  the  former  painter.  The  Duke  is  represented  on  his  bay  shooting-pony,  sur- 
rounded by  a  group  of  Clumbers,  which  a  writer  in  the  Sporting  Magazine  of 
1807,  when  an  engraving  of  the  picture,  or  a  part  of  it  only,  appeared  in  that 
serial,  calls  Springers,  or  Cock-flushers.  William  Mansell  at  that  time  had  had 
the  care  of  them  for  thirty  years,  and  made  it  his  study  to  produce  this  race 
of  dogs  unmixed,  and  they  were  at  this  time  known  as  the  Duke  or  Mansell' s 


THE   CLUMBER   SPANIEL.  309 

breed.  ...  It  is  no  easy  matter  to  breed  Clumbers  successfully.  They 
will  allow  of  no  cross,  but  they  often  improve  ordinary  Field  Spaniels,  and  it  is 
difficult  to  produce  thick,  short-legged  ones  without  an  infusion  of  the  blood. 
It  will  be  evident  from  my  foregoing  remarks  that  all  the  Clumbers  in  the 
kingdom  sprung  from  one  family  and  one  place,  and  therefore  there  can  be  no 
change  of  blood;  and  although  an  interchange  of  puppies  from  the  few  ken- 
nels scattered  up  and  down  the  country  does  good,  it  can  not  refresh  the 
constitution  like  a  new  strain. 

From  this  lack  of  infusions  of  new  blood,  the  Clumber 
has  been  constitutionally  weakened;  but  only  during  pup- 
pyhood,  to  the  ills  of  which  he  is  peculiarly  susceptible. 
On  the  attainment  of  full  growth,  however,  no  more  hardy 
dog  exists,  and  no  further  trouble  on  this  score  need  be 
apprehended. 

Non-converts  to  the  belief  that  this  breed  is  the  original 
Land  Spaniel,  and  as  ' '  pure ' '  a  one  as  any  can  be,  advance 
a  number  of  theories  as  to  how  it  was  evolved.  Of  these, 
the  most  credible  is  that  it  is  derived  from  a  union  of  the 
French  Basset  Hound  and  the  nondescript  Spaniel  of  the 
time.  Yet  another  faction  hold  out  that  it  originated  in  a 
cross  between  the  Turnspit  (a  very  long,  short-legged  dog, 
so  named  from  his  being  used  to  turn  the  spit  on  which  the 
meat  roasted;  the  breed,  if  indeed  there  ever  was  a  breed, 
is  now  extinct)  and  the  Land  Spaniel.  But  it  seems  so 
highly  improbable  that  a  sportsman  should  invoke  the  aid 
of  the  kitchen  in  breeding  a  sporting  dog,  that,  outside  of 
every  other  consideration,  I  consider  the  contention  unten- 
able. 

After  much  research  and  inquiry,  the  writer  has  arrived 
at  the  conclusion  that  the  first  specimens  brought  to  Amer- 
ica were  imported  by  Lieutenant  (afterward  Major)  Vena- 
bles,  of  Her  Majesty's  Ninety-seventh  Regiment,  then  in 
garrison  at  Halifax,  Nova  Scotia,  Canada,  in  1842.  He 
obtained  his  dogs  from  the  kennels  of  Marwood  Yeatman, 
Esq.,  the  Stock  House,  Dorset,  whose  ownership  of  "excel- 
lent" Clumbers  is  especially  mentioned  by  "Idstone"  in 
his  book.  The  writer  has  three  of  the  direct  descendants 
of  these  dogs  in  his  kennels,  and  Mr.  George  Piers  also  is 
the  owner  of  two  bitches  of  the  same  breeding;  but  his  old 
dog  Smash  II.  was  accidentally  poisoned  last  year. 


310 


THE   AMERICAN   BOOK    OF   THE   DOG. 


This  initial  importation  into  Nova  Scotia  was  supple- 
mented by  many  others,  the  breed  having  at  once  risen 
to  the  pinnacle  of  high  favor ;  and  Halifax  now  undoubt- 
edly numbers  more  Clumbers  in  its  canine  population 
than  any  other  city  on  the  continent. 

Later,  some  exceedingly  well-bred  Clumbers  were  im- 
ported by  a  gentleman  in  Ohio,  whose  name  I,  for  the 


CLUMBER    SPANIEL    PUPPY— QUESTER. 
Owned  by  Clumber  Kennel  (  P.  H.  F.  Mercer),  Ottawa,  Canada 

moment,  do  not  recollect.  Several  were  bought  by  parties 
in  Baltimore,  Md.,  and  Mr.  Jonathan  Thorne,  Jr.,  of 
Pennsylvania,  for  some  years  had  things  all  his  own  way, 
on  the  show  bench,  with  his  imported  dogs,  especially 
Trimbush,  whose  portrait  is  given  in  Pope's  series  of  col- 
ored lithographs  of  dogs. 

Within  the  past  seven  years  a  powerful  colony  has  been 


THE   CLUMBER   SPANIEL.  311 

founded  in  Ottawa,  Canada,  the  best  Clumbers  ever  seen  in 
America  having  been  bred  there. 

As  a  matter  of  fact,  States-bred  specimens  have  always 
had  to  succumb  to  the  "  Canucks "  —Champion  Johnny, 
Drake,  Champion  Newcastle,  Tyne,  John  Halifax,  etc.,  all 
being  Canadian  born  and  bred. 

The  year  1889  will  ever  be  a  red-letter  one  with  American 
Clumber  lovers,  for  in  it  the  importation  of  leading  Eng- 
lish prize-winners  was  inaugurated.  In  1887  the  writer 
secured  the  celebrated  Champion  Psycho  and  his  kennel 
companions,  Snow,  Clover,  Cherie,  Cynic,  and  two  others, 
to  come  to  this  country,  but  the  negotiation,  unfortunately, 
fell  through.  Since  then  no  notorieties  had  crossed  the 
Atlantic  until  Mr.  Cameron  Bate,  of  Ottawa,  pluckily  pur- 
chased the  English  champion,  Boss  III.  (Damper-Lotus), 
the  winner  of  an  immense  number  of  prizes  on  the  other 
side. 

This  dog,  while  deficient  in  several  attributes,  notably 
in  head  and  coat,  is  wonderfully  low  on  the  leg,  and  alto- 
gether a  decided  gain  to  the  Clumber  interests  of  America. 
Shortly  after,  the  same  gentleman,  on  the  recommendation 
of  the  writer,  purchased  the  bitch  Bromine  (Tower-Leda), 
a  winner  of  three  first  prizes  in  England,  and  who  defeated 
several  leading  winners  there,  besides  being  highly  eulo- 
gized by  the  kennel  press. 

The  writer  has  now  on  the  seas  the  beautiful  all  white 
bitch  Snow  (Champion  John  o'  Gaunt-Foxley  Beauty),  a 
winner  of  many  first  prizes,  including  the  Kennel  Club 
Jubilee  Show  at  Barn  Elms  and  Birmingham  twice,  that, 
both  from  her  form  and  splendid  breeding,  he  expects  will 
prove  an  invaluable  addition  to  his  kennel. 

Ottawa,  however,  is  not  singular  in  enterprise  of  this 
description,  for  Mr.  A.  L.  Weston,  of  Denver,  Colo.,  having 
laid  the  foundation  of  a  good  kennel  of  the  breed  by  pur- 
chases in  this  country,  has  bought  from  the  Duke  of  West- 
minster, at  a  very  long  price,  His  Grace's  first  prize  win- 
ning bitch  at  Birmingham. 

But  the  show  bench,  much    as    he  adorns  it  by  his 


312  THE   AMERICAN   BOOK    OF   THE  DOG. 

presence,  is  not  the  Clumber' s  sphere.  To  appreciate  them 
at  the  full,  one  must  see  them  silently  questing  for  their 
game.  I  am  of  the  firm  belief  that  there  is  no  prettier  sight 
than  a  team  of  good  Clumbers  stealing  ghost-like  through 
forest  or  covert.  Not  a  sound  is  to  be  heard  save  now  and 
then  the  breaking  of  the  omnipresent  dry  twig.  Mark  to 
the  right !  Drake  is  feathering.  Nell,  too,  has  caught 
the  scent.  Johnny,  who  has  been  questing  to  the  ex- 
treme left,  now  comes  up  to  them,  and  by  his  manner  at 
once  betrays  the  proximity  of  the  game.  The  bodies  now 
are  sunk  until  they  seem  to  sweep  the  ground;  they  look  to 
have  no  legs.  Their  heads  point  toward  some  matted, 
fallen  hemlocks,  and  with  every  now  and  then  a  backward 
glance,  for  fear  of  advancing  too  quickly  for  the  gun, 
they  swiftly  steal  along.  Now  they  are  within  a  yard 
of  the  grouse's  lair,  and  their  aspects  change.  With  a 
bound  and  a  frantic  waving  of  sterns,  they  are  in.  Whir-r ! 
A  line  •  old  cock  is  flushed  at  once.  Bang !  One  down. 
Whir-r !  Whir-r !  Two  more  up,  and  only  one  barrel 
charged !  A  hen  this  time  presents  the  easier  shot,  and  to 
the  report  drops,  but  only  wing-tipped. 

No  more  birds  being  there  to  flush,  the  dogs  are  on  the 
alert  to  retrieve  whatever  may  fall.  If  two  birds  or  more 
are  down,  both  Johnny  and  Drake  retrieve,  the  others  not 
being  allowed  to  interfere,  though  if  given  an  opportunity 
they  will  retrieve  with  alacrity.  In  this  instance  Drake 
brings  in  the  dead  cock,  while  Johnny  pursues  the  runner. 

Flying  and  running  together,  a  wing- tipped  grouse  can 
encompass  space  with  marvelous  celerity,  and  the  object  of 
Johnny's  pursuit  is  not  an  exception  to  the  general  rule. 
The  bird  doubles  and  twists  in  its  efforts  to  escape,  thereby 
causing  the  heavy  dog  to  lose  ground;  but  its  wiles  are  of 
no  avail,  and  soon  he  grasps  it  by  the  wing,  the  prisoner 
administering  heavy  punishment  about  his  head  with  the 
free  one,  and  brings  it  to  bag. 

From  this  a  conception  of  the  Clumber's  manner  of  land 
work  may  be  had,  and  surely  every  sportsman  will  admit 
that  such  silence  and  stealth  in  the  pursuit  of  game  is  a 


THE   CLUMBER   SPANIEL.  313 

desideratum.     It  is  killing,  certainly,  and  in  an  eminently 
sportsmanlike  way. 

Their  scent  is  simply  marvelous,  and  is  scarcely  subor- 
dinate in  excellence  to  that  of  the  Pointer  and  Setter;  indeed 
one  gentleman  in  particular  takes  me  to  task  for,  in  a 
former  article,  placing  them  on  a  par  at  all,  so  high  is  his 
opinion  of  the  Clumber's  keenness  of  scent. 

They  are  all-around  dogs,  good  alike  in  water  and  on 
land.  To  quote  a  sixty-year-old  sportsman  friend,  writing 
in  our  leading  sportsman's  paper,  some  two  years  since: 
' '  For  snipe,  woodcock,  and  partridge  (ruffed  grouse)  shoot- 
ing, and  for  retrieving  ducks,  I  consider  them  unequaled  by 
any  breed  of  dogs,  and  I  believe  they  would  also  be  excellent 
dogs  to  shoot  quail  over.  They  hunt  so  close  to  the  gun  that 
their  flushing  the  birds  without  pointing  would  not  be  of 
any  consequence,  and  in  finding  scattered  birds  after  the 
bevies  had  been  flushed  and  marked  down,  I  believe  they 
would  not  be  excelled  by  the  very  best  Pointers  and  Set- 
ters." In  all  of  which  I  fully  coincide. 

Keen-scented,  obedient,  and  withal  passionately  fond  of 
his  work,  he  is  the  beau  ideal  of  the  sportsman's  compan- 
ion. Among  his  many  good  qualities  is  one  that  should 
especially  recommend  him  to  the  average  sportsman,  who 
has  but  little  time  to  spend  afield,  much  less  in  breaking  a 
dog — he  is  a  natural  worker,  and  needs  but  little  training. 
While  on  game  he  is  entirely  mute,  which  is,  of  course,  a 
great  recommendation,  as  nothing  disturbs  game  more  than 
the  yapping  of  a  noisy  dog. 

It  is  quite  the  fashion  among  sportsmen  to  decry  the 
Clumber's  working  capabilities;  to  say  "they're  too  big" 
or  "too  clumsy,"  and  frequently  to  conclude  by  informing 
you  gravely  that  "  they're  no  good  anyway."  But  happily 
their  dictum  with  the  cognoscenti  does  not  carry  much 
weight.  No  one  that  would  speak  in  such  a  strain  could 
have  seen  a  good  Clumber  at  work.  The  writer  has  tried 
them  very  high,  and  has  never  known  them  to  fail.  He  has 
worked  one,  Champion  Johnny,  a  seventy-pound  dog,  for 
seventeen  consecutive  days  without  visibly  affecting  him; 


314  THE   AMERICAN    BOOK   OF   THE   DOG. 

also  a  team  on  ruffed  grouse  for  sixteen  days.  They  were 
weary  at  the  end  and  foot- sore,  but  by  no  means  tired  out, 
and  probably  the  insufficiency  of  strengthening  food  was 
most  to  blame.  I  could  fill  pages  with  citations  of  in- 
stances in  which  Clumbers  have  not  tired  out,  but  can 
not  recollect  a  single  instance  of  their  having  done  so. 

"Basil,"  an  eminent  English  authority  on  shooting, 
wrote  in  a  London  publication,  two  years  ago,  an  article  on 
Clumber  Spaniels  with  particular  reference  to  their  superi- 
ority over  Pointers  and  Setters  at  all  work  save  that  of 
grouse-shooting  on  the  moors.  The  following  is  an  extract : 

For  any  man  who  does  not  shoot  on  moors,  and  who  wants  a  general  dog,  I 
say  take  a  Clumber.  There  is  no  sort  of  low  country  he  can  not  do.  I  may 
go  even  further,  and  say  he  will  do  grouse  ground  too,  and  I  believe  he  would 
well,  especially  in  those  districts,  such  as  Yorkshire  and  Derbyshire,  where 
birds  are  wild,  and  where  the  ordinary  sportsman  has  to  go  "  gruffing,"  as  it  is 
called,  to  get  game;  i.  e.,  stealing  up  the  "  gruffs,"  or  gullies  and  undulations 
in  the  ground,  and  trying  all  the  clumps  of  long,  old,  twisted  heather  and 
broken  bogs.  Of  course  my  Lord  Nabob,  who  can  command  an  army  of  men, 
can  drive  his  grouse.  I  talk  of  the  man  who  enjoys  more  sport  than  he;  i.  e., 
the  man  who,  as  I  say,  wants  a  general  dog.  A  good  retrieving  Clumber, 
taught,  as  they  mostly  are,  to  drop  to  hand,  fur,  wing,  and  shot,  and  to  keep 
at  heel  when  desired,  is  the  most  useful  dog  you  can  have.  On  partridge  and 
low  ground  shooting  he  is  any  dog's  equal  (I  say  his  master);  and  by  walking 
across  the  open  places  on  the  moor,  and  thus  driving  the  birds  forward  to  deep, 
lying  bogs  and  "gruffs"  (similar  tactics  to  partridge-shooting),  you  will  find 
him  a  very  satisfactory  animal  to  fill  the  bag.  And  in  Scotch  cover,  for  wood- 
cock, blackcock,  and  pheasant  shooting  in  the  long  old  ling,  ferns,  and  juniper, 
which  is  the  undergrowth  in  Highland  woods,  he  is  fully  in  his  element,  being 
perfectly  mute,  sagacious,  and  killing.  For  any  man  who  wants  a  general  dog 
and  a  general  gun,  I  should  say  take  a  good  cylinder  twelve-bore,  and  a  hand- 
some, well-bred,  and  well-broken  retrieving  Clumber,  and  you  will  not  regret 
it;  ...  In  my  country  the  Lord  Nabobs  keep  their  Pointers  and  Setters 
for  the  moors,  and  Clumbers  for  partridge-shooting.  Experience  has  taught 
them  that  that  is  the  right  course,  and  that  is  the  course  pursued  when  they 
kill  from  one  thousand  to  three  thousand  brace  of  birds  in  a  season. 
The  advantage  which  a  Clumber  has  over  a  Pointer  for  partridges  is — he 
goes  much  quieter,  and  when  he  flushes  is  within  range.  .  .  .  Again, 
birds  when  they  scatter  in  turnips  often  run  very  much.  With  a  Pointer 
roading  and  reading  them,  they  frequently  run  all  over  the  field,  especially 
in  windy  weather,  and  thus  steal  away  out  of  shot  or  at  long  distances.  A 
Spaniel  when  he  comes  across  game  does  not  give  it  leisure  to  play  these 
tricks;  he  pounces  on  it,  and  it  must  rise  at  once.  Pheasants,  also,  in  turnips, 
often  tease  a  Pointer  or  Setter  terribly,  when  a  good  Spaniel  would  have  them 


THE   CLUMBER   SPANIEL.  315 

up  directly.     I  have  explained  that  his  range  is  close,  therefore  he  rises  them 
within  shot ;  and  a  Clumber  can  always  be  kept  to  his  range. 

"Idstone,"  in  his  heretofore-mentioned  work  on  "The 
Dog,  "  remarks  as  follows  regarding  the  Clumber: 

Owing  to  his  strong  frame  and  sober  disposition,  the  Clumber  lasts  longer 
than  most  dogs .  He  also  gains  wisdom  by  experience,  and  attains  value  with 
age.  Thus  at  seven,  when  your  Setter  is  slow,  your  Clumber  is  an  adept,  and 
you  are  the  envy  of  all  your  acquaintances,  who,  provided  they  are  really  fond 
of  sport,  will  feel  as  much  pleasure  in  the  work  of  your  dog  as  in  the  variety 
and  abundance  of  sport  you  offer  them. 

During  the  spring  of  1888  I  had  occasion  to  search  a 
tract  of  several  square  miles  of  land,  most  of  it  densely 
covered  with  timber,  in  search  of  a  Clumber,  belonging  to 
me,  that  had  escaped  from  the  train  at  a  neighboring  sta- 
tion, and,  terror-stricken  at  the  strangeness  of  the  surround- 
ings, had  taken  to  the  brush.  On  the  first  day's  search  I 
took  with  me  a  Pointer  and  Setter,  and  was  much  struck 
with  the  apparent  scarcity  of  game.  The  second  day  I  was 
accompanied  by  a  Clumber,  and  in  the  same  woods  he 
flushed  an  abundance  of  game.  He  "nosed  out"  what  the 
gallopers  had  passed  by. 

For  duck-retrieving  from  the  water  they  are  superb, 
being  swift  and  powerful  swimmers,  and  always  intent  on 
coming  up  with  the  game.  They  will  dive  after  a  bird  like 
a  Chesapeake  Bay  Dog  (this  accomplishment,  it  will  be 
observed,  is  mentioned  by  De  Langley),  and  catch  it  under 
water.  The  color  is  objectionable  for  this  work;  but  a  light 
cotton  cloth,  "dead  grass"  in  color,  thrown  over  him, 
will  prevent  his  being  seen.  No  bird  can  escape  them  by 
hiding  in  reeds  or  rushes. 

Yet  the  transcendent  merits  of  this  grand  dog  are 
unknown  to  the  vast  majority  of  sportsmen,  and  those 
who  know  of  him  through  hearsay,  and  Stonehenge,  are 
strongly  prejudiced  against  him.  That  writer,  by  his  utterly 
unjust  statement  that  they  quickly  tire  and  are  but  the 
rich  man's  dog,  has  done  great  injury  to  the  breed,  for 
Stonehenge' s  books  are  far  more  widely  circulated  than  any 
other  publications  treating  of  the  dog.  I  am  often  asked: 
4 '  If  Clumbers  are  such  wonderful  dogs,  why  are  they  so 


316  THE  AMEKICAN    BOOK   OF   THE   DOG. 

unpopular  3 ' '  My  answer  is  that  they  are  the  victims  of 
ignorance  and  prejudice. 

It  may  be  pertinent  to  remark  that  I  know  of  no  one 
who  has  taken  up  Clumbers  who  is  not  more  than  pleased 
and  satisfied  with  them;  nay,  in  nearly  every  instance  they 
are  enthusiastic  in  their  praise. 

Clumbers  as  bred  in  America  are  much  higher  on  the 
leg  than  the  general  run  of  English  dogs,  consequent  upon 
their  having  been  bred,  until  the  last  few  years,  for  shoot- 
ing only,  and  without  reference  to  bench-show  points  of 
excellence.  A  working  Spaniel  must  have  a  certain  amount 
of  leg;  but  then,  again,  leg  can  be  overdone,  just  as  low- 
ness  can  be,  and  many  of  our  Clumbers  are  far  too  abund- 
antly supplied  with  understandings.  But  while  I  dislike 
extreme  legginess  greatly,  I  also  abhor  the  exaggerated 
long  and  low  type,  whose  bellies  nearly  sweep  the  ground. 
It  is  purely  a  fancy  fad  that  construes  "short"  in  a 
standard  to  mean  shortest  and  "low"  lowest.  Why  we 
should  rush  to  extremes,  instead  of  following  a  midway 
course,  for  the  life  of  me  I  can  not  see. 

In  breeding  Clumbers,  this  tendency  to  extreme  leggi- 
ness is  to  be  guarded  against.  Another  general  fault  is  the 
un-Clumber-like  ear,  and  few  specimens  have  really  well- 
shaped  and  well-hung  ones.  The  ear  is  so  distinctive  a 
mark  of  the  breed  that  this  is  to  be  deplored.  Expression 
of  the  true  kind,  too,  is  seldom  seen,  and  heads  are  far  too 
apt  to  be  misshapen.  In  England,  I  learn,  the  breed  is  fast 
deteriorating  from  its  old-time  excellence;  but  I  hope  that 
the  proverbial  American  push  and  intelligence  will  in  time 
succeed  in  resuscitating  the  Clumber  Spaniel. 

Probably  the  best  Clumber  ever  seen  Avas  Mr.  Bullock's 
Old  Nabob,  some  time  since*  dead.  I  have  repeatedly  en- 
deavored to  secure  a  portrait  of  him,  but  without  success; 
indeed,  a  prominent  English  Spaniel  owner  writes  to  me: 
"I  do  not  think  there  is  a  photograph  of  Nabob  in  exist- 
ence. I  knew  the  dog,  and  the  gentleman  who  owned  him, 
during  nearly  the  whole  of  his  show  time.  Mr.  Bullock 
was  awfully  jealous  of  his  dogs,  and  hardly  liked  people 


THE   CLUMBEE   SPANIEL.  317 

looking  at  them  when  at  exhibitions."  The  best  of  late 
years  was  Champion  Psycho,  who  is  sixteen  years  old. 
Champion  John  o'  Gaunt,  too,  was  a  good  Clumber.  At 
present  there  is  no  dog  that  stands  prominently  out  from 
his  fellows.  Among  the  best  are  Holmes'  Tower,  Mr. 
Farrow's  Faust,  Ralph,  Friar  Boss,  and  Hotpot. 

In  America,  the  best  native-bred  dogs  have  been  Cham- 
pion Johnny,  Champion  Newcastle,  Drake,  and  Tyne,  all 
sired  by  one  dog,  Mr.  Palmer's  imported  Ben,  a  dog  of 
direct  Clumber  House  descent. 

The  leading  Clumber  owners  and  exhibitors  are  Messrs. 
Wilmerding  and  Kitchel,  of  New  York;  Mr.  Hill,  of  Ottawa, 
who  is  associated  with  the  writer;  Mr.  H.  W.  Windram, 
of  Boston;  and  Messrs.  Bate  and  Geddes,  of  Ottawa.  An 
important  new-comer  is  Mr.  A.  L.  Weston,  of  Denver,  Colo. 

The  few  Clumbers  in  this  country  are  owned  for  the  most 
part  by  sportsmen  scattered  far  and  wide  over  the  conti- 
nent, who  do  not  care  to  go  to  the  trouble  and  expense 
the  exhibiting  of  dogs  entails. 

As  to  preparation  for  the  show  bench,  little  can  be  said, 
for  the  lesson  can  only  be  learned  in  the  school  of  experi- 
ence, and  even  when  learned  mayhap  it  will  not  apply. 
Some  dogs  can  not  be  properly  conditioned.  Plenty  of 
brushing,  and  judicious  feeding,  and  exercising  are  the 
only  means  by  which  the  desired  end  may  be  attained. 

Every  sportsman  takes  pride  in  the  ownership  of  a  hand- 
some dog,  and  the  gift  of  beauty  a  Clumber  possesses  in  a 
high  degree.  They  are  withal  eminently  aristocratic  in 
appearance.  " Handsome  is  as  handsome  does"  is  a  time- 
honored  adage;  but  when  we  can  combine  beauty  and  util- 
ity in  one  body,  surely  it  is  as  well  to  have  it  so. 

"Idstone"  goes  so  far  as  to  characterize  the  Clumber  as 
' '  decidedly  the  handsomest  dog  ever  bred  for  the  sports- 
man." 

"Dog  stories"  of  late  years  have  been  so  much  over- 
done that  I  will  not  weary  the  reader  with  oft-told  tales  of 
the  miraculous  performances  of  my  pets;  but  this  omission 
must  not  be  construed  as  being  due  to  a  paucity  of  instances 


318  THE   AMERICAN   BOOK   OF   THE   DOG. 

of  Clumber  sagacity  for  me  to  elaborate  upon.  There  is  no 
more  intelligent  dog  in  existence  than  he  whom  I  champion 
— the  noble  Clumber. 

To  their  masters  they  are  the  most  faithful  of  friends, 
and  no  stranger  need  expect  this  aristocrat  to  take  the  least 
notice  of  his  caresses,  if,  indeed,  he  tolerates  them  at  all. 

They  are  splendid  watch-dogs,  and  no  intruder  can  come 
about  their  master's  residence  without  notice  being  given 
of  his  presence.  My  Clumbers  prevented  one  burglar  that 
I  know  of  from  u burgling"  (he  was  seen);  and  a  gentleman 
writes  to  me  of  his  Clumber  that  "he  is  the  most  vigilant 
watch-dog  I  have  ever  known,  and  I  have  owned  many.  He 
does  not  bite,  but  will  bark  persistently.  On  two  occasions 
he  prevented  the  entrance  of  burglars,  many  of  the  houses 
in  the  neighborhood  being  entered.  But  he  never  barks 
unless  there  is  a  noise  around  the  house." 

This  describes  their  methods  very  well,  though  my  ex- 
perience has  been  that  they  will  bite  at  a  pinch,  and  an 
ugly  wound  they  can  give.  I  should  certainly  not  care  to 
have  a  stranger  happen  in  my  kennels  at  night.  There 
would  be  a  badly  used-up  man  to  comfort,  I  fancy. 

Of  ancient  and  high  lineage,  useful,  strong,  enduring, 
faithful,  watchful,  and  beautiful — surely  the  Clumber  Span- 
iel is  deserving  of  popularity. 

It  is  therefore  most  gratifying,  to  those  of  us  who  know 
and  love  this  noble  dog,  to  observe  that  he  is  becoming 
more  and  more  popular  in  America  every  year;  that  he  is 
being  sought  after  to-day  by  sportsmen  who  a  few  years 
ago  either  knew  or  cared  nothing  for  him;  that  good  speci- 
mens of  the  breed  now  sell  readily  at  prices  that  a  few 
years  ago  would  have  been  thought  by  every  American 
exorbitant.  It  is  gratifying  to  know  that,  notwithstand- 
ing the  wide  distribution  of  Clumber  owners,  already  noted, 
each  year's  entry  of  this  breed  at  our  bench  shows  shows 
an  increase  over  the  preceding  year.  All  these  facts  indi- 
cate that  the  Clumber  is  a  coming  dog,  and  it  is  safe  to 
predict  that  in  time  he  will  become  almost  as  numerous  and 
as  generally  popular  in  this  country  as  is  the  Setter  to-day. 


THE   CLUMBER   SPANIEL. 


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320  THE    AMEEICAN   BOOK   OF   THE   DOG. 

A  representative  pedigree,  and  one  tracing  back  to  the 
best  strains  in  Great  Britain,  is  that  of  the  fine  young  dog 
Johnny  II.,  bred  by  the  writer.  He  is  brother  in  blood  to 
Quester,  of  whom  an  illustration  is  given  on  page  310. 

Subjoined  is  the  standard  for  judging  Clumber  Spaniels 
as  drawn  up  by  me  and  adopted  by  the  American  Spaniel 
Club: 

Value.  Value. 

General  appearance  and  size 10    Body  and   quarters 20 

Head 15    Legs  and  feet 10 

Eyes 5    Coat  and  feather 10 

Ears 10    Color  and  markings 5 

Neck  and  shoulders 15 

Total 100 

General  appearance  and  size. — General  appearance,  a 
long,  low,  heavy -looking  dog,  of  a  very  thoughtful  expres- 
sion, betokening  great  intelligence.  Should  have  the  ap- 
pearance of  great  power.  Sedate  in  all  movements,  but  not 
clumsy.  Weight  of  dogs  averaging  between  fifty-five  and 
sixty-five  pounds ;  bitches  from  thirty-five  to  fifty  pounds. 

Head. — Head  large  and  massive  in  all  its  dimensions  ; 
round  above  eyes,  flat  on  the  top,  with  a  furrow  run- 
ning from  between  the  eyes  up  the  center.  A  marked 
stop  and  large  occipital  protuberance.  Jaw  long,  broad, 
and  deep.  Lips  of  upper  jaw  overhung.  Muzzle  not  square, 
but  at  the  same  time  powerful-looking.  Nostrils  large,  open, 
and  flesh-colored,  sometimes  cherry-colored. 

Eyes. — Eyes  large,  soft,  and  deep-set,  and  showing  haw. 
Hazel  in  color,  not  too  pale,  with  dignified  and  intelligent 
expression. 

Ears. — Ears  long  and  broad  at  the  top,  turned  over  on 
the  front  edge  ;  vine-shaped  ;  close  to  the  head ;  set  on  low, 
and  feathered  only  on  the  front  edge,  and  there  but  slightly. 
Hair  short  and  silky,  without  slightest  approach  to  wave  or 
curl. 

Neck  and  shoulders. — Neck  long,  thick,  and  powerful, 
free  from  dewlap,  with  a  large  ruff.  Shoulders  immensely 
strong  and  muscular,  giving  a  heavy  appearance  in  front. 

Body  and  quarters. — Body  very  long  and  low,  well 
ribbed-up,  and  long  in  the  coupling.  Chest  of  great  depth 


THE   CLUMBER   SPANIEL.  321 

and  volume.  Loin  powerful  and  not  too  much  arched. 
Back  long,  broad,  and  straight,  free  from  droop  or  bow. 
Length  an  important  characteristic;  the  nearer  the  dog  is 
in  length  to  being  two  and  one-half  times  his  height  at 
shoulders  the  better.  Quarters  shapely  and  very  muscular, 
neither  drooping  nor  stilty. 

Legs  and  feet. — Fore  legs  short,  straight,  and  im- 
mensely heavy  in  bone;  well  in  at  elbow.  Hind  legs 
heavy  in  bone,  but  not  so  heavy  as  fore  legs.  No  feather 
below  hocks,  but  thick  hair  on  back  of  leg  just  above 
foot.  Feet  large,  compact,  and  plentifully  filled  with 
hair  between  toes. 

Coat  and  feather. — Coat  silky  and  straight,  not  too 
long,  extremely  dense;  feather  long  and  abundant. 

Color  and  markings. — Color,  lemon  and  white  and 
orange  and  white.  Fewer  markings  on  body  the  better. 
Perfection  of  markings  :  Solid  lemon  or  orange  ears,  evenly 
marked  head  and  eyes,  muzzle  and  legs  ticked. 

Stern. — Set  on  level  and  carried  low. 


21 


THE  SUSSEX  SPANIEL. 


BY  A.  CLINTON  WILMERDING. 


>HE  Sussex  is  one  of  the  many  varieties  of  the  Land 
Spaniel.  In  color  he  is  of  a  golden  liver,  not  over 
symmetrical  in  appearance,  nor  always  graceful  in 
gait  and  action,  but  a  substantial  worker,  a  valuable  com- 
panion in  the  field,  as  a  rule  a  good  retriever  on  either  land 
or  water,  and  gifted,  as  are  all  the  sporting  Spaniels,  with 
a  wonderful  sense  of  smell. 

This  breed  is  not  so  often  met  with  in  this  country  as  are 
the  Field,  or  Springer,  the  Cocker,  Clumber,  and  Irish 
Water  Spaniels;  in  fact  it  appears  as  if  but  a  matter  of  a 
few  years  when  the  few  pure  specimens  that  we  have  will 
die  off,  and  the  breed  become  practically  extinct  so  far 
as  we  are  concerned,  unless  further  acquisitions  are  sought 
from  the  other  side,  and  more  interest  taken  in  this  useful 
dog,  by  our  Spaniel  fanciers  and  breeders. 

It  is  perhaps  an  unfortunate  condition  of  things  that  the 
few  specimens  here  have  not  been  kept  religiously  apart 
from  the  other  breeds,  instead  of  being  indiscriminately 
bred  with  them.  This,  however,  may  be  overlooked  when 
we  realize  the  rarity  of  the  breed,  and  the  difficulty  and 
expense  entailed  in  mating  them  when  scattered,  as  they 
are,  throughout  the  country.  Then,  too,  with  but  one  or 
two  exceptions,  within  our  memory,  their  classification  at 
bench  shows  brings  them  under  the  head  of  l '  Field 
Spaniels,"  which  title  frequently  embraces  all  the  larger 
Spaniels  (over  twenty-eight  pounds)  excepting  the  Irish 
Water;  Clumber,  Sussex,  and  Springers  often  competing 
together  in  this  class.  Hence  it  is  not  to  be  wondered  at 
that,  with  but  few  of  the  breed,  and  the  slight  inducement 
offered  to  breeders,  the  disposition  has  been  to  breed  to  the 

(323) 


324  THE   AMERICAN   BOOK   OF  THE   DOG. 

winning  blacks  among  the  Springers,  to  perpetuate  strength, 
length,  and  flatness  of  coat. 

Among  the  early  breeders  (in  England)  and  owners  of 
the  Sussex,  appear  such  men  as  S.  W.  Marchant,  who  at 
one  time  claimed  to  be  the  only  owner  of  the  pure  Rose- 
hill  strain;  J.  Fuller,  of  Rosehill,  Sussex;  Rev.  W.  Shields, 
Lord  Middleton,  Lord  Derby,  Hon.  Captain  Arbuthnott,  H. 
Saxby,  Phineas  Bullock,  and  others.  These  men  were  cer- 
tainly pioneers  in  the  breed,  and  always  stanch  upholders 
of  it. 

Among  the  pure-bred  dogs  of  early  date,  we  lind  several 
well-known  names  that  figure  liberally  in  the  pedigrees  of 
many  of  our  present  prize-winners;  especially  so  with  the 
Field  Spaniels,  or  Springers.  To  this  ancestry  may  be 
attributed  much  of  the  strength,  bone,  and  substance  of 
our  present  dogs. 

In  tracing  out  the  " family  tree"  of  a  majority  of  the 
leading  dogs  of  to-day  (particularly  of  the  Jacobs  stock), 
we  find  the  old  and  familiar  names  of  Burdett's  Frank, 
Marchant' s  Rover,  Burgess'  Bebb,  Old  Bebb,  Mousley's 
Venus,  Bachelor,  Bob,  Bess,  Bounce,  etc.,  etc.;  these  were 
all  said  to  be  of  the  pure  Sussex  breed. 

In  the  field  this  dog  is  a  strong  and  cheerful  worker,  of 
great  pluck  and  energy.  As  a  rule  he  is  not  silent,  al- 
though there  are  frequent  exceptions  to  this.  He  generally 
gives  tongue  when  approaching  game.  In  many  parts  of 
our  shooting  territory  they  should  be  particularly  useful 
and  valuable,  in  spots  where  the  Setter  or  Pointer  can  not 
penetrate;  the  Sussex  being  powerful  and  short  of  leg,  and 
withal  well  protected  by  a  thick,  flat  coat,  will  fearlessly 
press  his  way  through  the  densest  briers  and  undergrowth, 
and  ultimately  reach  and  flush  the  fur  or  feather  secreted 
therein. 

It  seems  but  fair  that  this  much-neglected  breed  should 
receive  the  assistance  of  the  Spaniel  Club,  and,  like  the 
Cockers,  the  Springers,  and  the  Clumbers,  be  brought  into 
public  notice  and  prominence,  as  the  others  have  been, 
through  the  efforts  of  this  club. 


THE   SUSSEX   SPANIEL.  325 

The  values  of  the  points  and  a  description  of  the  dog 
will  at  once  make  themselves  clear,  in  the  following  stand- 
ard for  the  breed,  from  "  The  Dogs  of  the  British  Isles," 
edited  by  the  late  J.  H.  Walsh  ( "  Stonehenge " ),  and 
adopted  by  that  protector  and  guardian  of  the  Spaniel — 
the  oldest  specialty  club  in  America — the  American  Spaniel 
Club: 

Value.  Value. 

Skull 15    Legs  and  feet 10 

Eyes 5    Tail 10 

Nose 10    Color  10 

Ears 5     Coat 5 

Neck 5    Symmetry 5 

Shoulders  and  chest 10 

Back  and  back  ribs 10           Total 100 

The  sTcull  (value  15)  should  be  long  and  wide,  with  a 
deep  indentation  in  the  middle,  and  a  full  stop,  projecting 
well  over  the  eyes;  occiput  full,  but  not  pointed;  the  whole 
giving  an  appearance  of  heaviness  without  dullness. 

The  eyes  (value  5)  are  full,  soft,  and  languishing,  but  not 
watering  so  as  to  stain  the  coat. 

The  nose  (value  10)  should  be  long  (three  inches  to  three 
and  one-half  inches)  and  broad,  the  end  liver-colored,  with 
large  open  nostrils. 

The  ears  (value  5)  are  moderately  long  and  lobe-shaped — 
that  is  to  say,  narrow  at  the  junction  with  the  head,  wider 
in  the  middle,  and  rounded  below,  not  pointed.  They 
should  be  well  clothed  with  soft,  wavy,  and  silky  hair,  but 
not  heavily  loaded  with  it. 

The  neck  (value  5)  is  rather  short,  strong,  and  slightly 
arched,  but  not  carrying  the  head  much  above  the  level  of 
the  back.  There  is  no  throatiness  in  the  skin,  but  a  well- 
marked  frill  in  the  coat. 

Shoulders  and  chest  (value  10). — The  chest  is  round, 
especially  behind  the  shoulders,  and  moderately  deep,  giv- 
ing a  good  girth.  It  narrows  at  the  shoulders,  which  are 
consequently  oblique,  though  strong,  with  full  points,  long 
arms,  and  elbows  well  let  down,  and  these  last  should  not 
be  turned  out  or  in. 

Back  and  back  ribs  (value  10). — The  back  or  loin  is  long, 


326  THE  AMERICAN    BOOK    OF   THE  DOG. 

and  should  be  very  muscular  both  in  width  and  depth. 
For  this  latter  development,  the  back  ribs  must  be  very 
deep.  The  whole  body  is  characterized  as  low,  long,  and 
strong. 

Legs  and  feet  (value  10). — Owing  to  the  width  of  chest, 
the  fore  legs  of  the  Sussex  Spaniel  are  often  bowed;  but  it 
is  a  defect,  notwithstanding,  though  not  a  serious  one.  The 
arms  and  thighs  must  be  bony  as  well  as  muscular;  knees 
and  hocks  large,  wide,  and  strong;  pasterns  very  short  and 
bony;  feet  round,  and  toes  well  arched  and  clothed  thickly 
with  hair.  The  fore  legs  should  be  well  feathered  all  down, 
and  the  hind  ones  also,  above  the  hocks,  but  should  not 
have  much  hair  below  this  point. 

The  tail  (value  10)  is  generally  cropped,  and  should  be 
thickly  clothed  with  hair,  but  not  with  long  feather.  The 
true  Spaniel's  low  carriage  of  the  tail  at  work  is  well 
marked  in  this  breed. 

The  color  (value  10)  of  the  Sussex  Spaniel  is  a  well- 
marked,  but  not  exactly  rich,  golden  liver,  on  which  there 
is  often  a  washed-out  look  that  detracts  from  its  richness. 
This  color  is  often  met  with  in  other  breeds,  however,  and 
is  no  certain  sign  of  purity  in  the  Sussex  Spaniel. 

The  coat  (value  5)  is  wavy,  without  any  curl;  abundant, 
silky,  and  soft. 

The  symmetry  (value  5)  of  the  Sussex  Spaniel  is  riot 
very  marked;  but  he  should  not  be  devoid  of  this  quality. 


THE  FIELD  SPANIEL. 


BY  J.  F.  KIIIK. 

>HE  Field  Spaniel  is  the  modern  name  given  to  the 
larger  breed  of  Land  Spaniels,  or  Springers,  to  dis- 
tinguish them  from  Water  Spaniels  and  the  smaller 
Land  Spaniel,  or  Cocker.  The  name  is  not  especially 
happy  as  to  choice,  inasmuch  as  his  work  is  principally 
confined  to  cover-shooting,  where  he  is  particularly  useful 
in  finding  and  raising,  or  "  springing,"  the  woodcock,  par- 
tridge, or  pheasant,  and  his  raison  d'etre  and  popularity 
consist  in  his  special  excellence  and  adaptability  for  such 
work. 

In  the  English  Kennel  Club  Stud  Book,  under  the  head 
of  Field  Spaniels,  are  included  Springers  and  Cockers,  ex- 
cept such  as  have  special  classes  assigned  to  them,  viz.: 
Clumbers  and  Sussex  Spaniels.  Thus  there  are  many 
varieties,  having  distinct  and  separate  characteristics, 
admitted  and  recognized  under  the  comprehensive  cogno- 
men of  Field  Spaniel;  but  the  intention  and  scope  of  this 
article  is  to  treat  of  that  most  popular  and  handsome  variety 
known  as  the  Black  Spaniel. 

Before  going  particularly  into  the  points  and  qualities 
of  this  engaging  and  beautiful  breed,  a  short  glance  into 
his  history  and  elements  will  enable  the  reader  to  trace  the 
fact  that,  as  he  is  at  present  displayed  on  our  show  benches, 
to  the  admiration  of  all  lovers  of  sporting  dogs,  he  is  of 
comparatively  modern  origin.  A  stupid  prejudice,  as  it 
seems  to  the  writer,  exists  in  the  minds  of  many  worthy 
old  sportsmen,  that  deterioration  is  the  most  evident  fact  to 
them  in  comparing  modern  Spaniels  with  the  wonderful 
dogs  of  their  day.  This  is  pure  nonsense,  and  arises  from 
a  kind  of  halo  of  glory  with  which  we  are  all  apt  to  sur- 

(320 


328  THE  AMERICAN   BOOK   OF  THE  DOG. 

round  the  memories  of  oar  young  and  enthusiastic  days. 
From  personal  recollection  and  good  opportunities  of  com- 
parison, extending  over  nearly  forty  years,  I  feel  positive 
that  the  handsomest  Setters  which  old  Laverack  used  to 
bring  with  him  to  my  native  highland  moors  would  not 
receive  more  than  a  V.  H.  C.  card  at  our  modern  shows. 
And  so  with  Spaniels.  The  dogs  of  thirty,  or  even  fif- 
teen, years  ago  can  not  be  compared  with  the  cracks  of  the 
present  day.  In  candidly  admitting  this  fact,  however,  I 
am  quite  free  to  confess  that  there  is  a  strong  tendency  on 
the  part  of  modern  breeders  to  exaggerate  ' '  fancy ' '  points, 
and,  as  a  consequence,  an  undue  appreciation  is  apt  to  be 
given,  in  the  cultivation  of  the  different  breeds,  to  abnor- 
mal excess  in  the  admired  and  difficult-to-be-obtained  qual- 
ities that  differentiate  each  class  from  its  kindred  and  allied 
breeds,  sometimes  at  the  expense  of  more  useful  character- 
istics. For  instance,  Spaniel  conformation  is  essentially 
4 'long  and  low,"  and  this  has  created  a  rivalry  amongst 
breeders  to  produce  the  "  longest  and  lowest."  Now  there 
is  a  limit  to  length  and  lowness,  which  is  clearly  defined  as 
a  point  where  an  exaggeration  in  those  respects  interferes 
with  the  necessary  activity  and  ability  to  work  with  suffi- 
cient ease  and  vigor  in  a  rough  country. 

In  England,  the  Clumber,  which  is  the  longest,  lowest, 
and  heaviest  of  the  Spaniel  tribe,  is  only  particularly  use- 
ful in  pheasant  preserves,  where  rides  are  cut  through  the 
cover,  and  where  slow,  strong,  plodding  dogs  are  required. 
In  examining  the  old  authorities,  we  find  that  there  were 
numerous  varieties  of  sporting  Spaniels,  and  that  each 
appears  to  have  been  selected  and  bred  for  the  special 
peculiarities  of  the  game  and  shooting  that  prevailed  in 
certain  districts.  In  Sussex,  the  large,  handsome,  golden- 
liver  breed  was  especially  prized;  in  Wales  and  Devon,  the 
smaller  liver  and  liver-and-white  Cockers  were  especially 
suited,  par  excellence,  for  the  sport  in  those  counties,  while 
farther  north,  and  in  the  midland  counties,  the  black  and 
black-and-tan  Spaniels  were  the  favorites.  After  the  intro- 
duction of  dog  shows  in  England,  about  thirty  years  ago, 


THE   FIELD    SPANIEL. 


329 


the  blacks  appear  to  have  monopolized  most  attention,  and 
several  breeders  of  historical  renown  succeeded  in  improv- 
ing, by  judicious  selection  and  crosses,  the  very  beautiful 
Black  Spaniel  till  he  fairly  eclipsed  all  competitors  for  hon- 
ors. More  recently,  a  highly  successful  experiment  of  cross- 
ing him  with  the  highly  esteemed  Sussex  breed  has  brought 
fame  and  funds,  as  the  result,  to  the  most  intelligent  and 
persevering  breeders  of  the  present  day.  Thus  we  see  that 


CHAMPION    FIELD    SPANIEL-BLACK  PRINCE. 
Owned  by  Mr.   A.  Clinton  Wilmerdmg,  163   Broadway,  New  York  City. 

the  popular  modern  Black  Spaniel  is  a  product  of  judicious 
and  skillful  crossing  of  various  breeds. 

DESCRIPTION   OF  THE  MODERN   FIELD   SPANIEL. 

The  Rev.  W.  B.  Daniel,  whose  "Rural  Sports,9'  pub- 
lished during  the  first  decade  of  the  century,  ought  to  be 
in  every  sportsman's  library,  being  the  work  of  a  thorough 
connoisseur  and  keen  critical  observer,  says:  UA  Spaniel 
can  not  be  too  strong;  a  Spaniel  can  not  be  too  short  on 


330  THE  AMERICAN   BOOK   OF   THE   DOG. 

the  leg;  a  Spaniel  can  nofr  be  too  high-couraged."  Thus 
we  see  that  extremely  short,  heavy  limbs  are  no  modern 
innovation,  as  some  claim.  I  am  inclined  to  think,  how- 
ever, that  if  the  good  and  reverend  old  gentleman  lived  in 
our  day,  he  would  be  inclined  to  cry:  ' '  Halt!  You  have  got 
them  short  enough  in  the  leg,  and  heavy  enough  in  bone, 
and  too  many  of  your  prize-winners  are  too  crooked  and 
clumsy  for  any  sporting  purpose. "  And  he  would  be  right. 
The  modern  tendency  is  to  breed  them  too  heavy  in  bone 
and  body,  and  consequently  too  heavy  and  unwieldy  for 
use.  I  refer,  of  course,  to  the  English  prize-winners, 
because,  on  this  side  of  the  Atlantic,  few  indeed  of  this 
type  have  been  seen.*  Our  Spaniels,  as  seen  on  the  show 
benches,  are  generally  absurdly  wrong  in  the  opposite 
direction.  A  leggy  Spaniel  is  an  abomination,  but  we 
must  come  to  a  clear  comprehension  as  to  the  line  to  be 
drawn  between  4 '  long  legs ' '  and  ' 4  no  legs. ' '  Now,  a  short- 
legged  dog,  which  every  Spaniel  should  be,  does  not  mean 
of  necessity  a  crawling  thing  that  requires  to  be  helped 
over  every  obstacle  a  foot  or  two  high.  I  have  seen  a 
Sussex  Spaniel  bitch,  measuring  only  fifteen  inches  full 
height  at  shoulder,  and  forty  inches  from  tip  of  nose  to 

*  The  following  list  includes  most  of  the  prominent  breeders  and  owners 
of  Field  Spaniels  in  this  country:  A.  C.  Wilmerding,  163  Broadway,  New 
York  City;  J.  P.  Willey,  Salmon  Falls,  N.  H. ;  George  W.  Folsom,  826  Con- 
necticut avenue,  Farragut  Square,  Washington,  D.  C.;  R.  P.  Keasby,  6 
Saybrook  place,  Newark,  N.  J.;  D.  S.  Hammond,  Murray  Hill  Hotel,  Forty- 
first  and  Park  avenue,  New  York  City;  Charles  T.  Carnell,  190  Washington 
street,  New  York  City;  R.  H.  Eggleston,  36  East  Forty-second  street,  New 
York  City;  T.  L.  Jacques,  217  West  Fourteenth  street,  New  York  City;  A. 
Laidlaw,  Woodstock,  Ontario,  Canada;  W.  T.  Payne,  31  West  Thirty-eighth 
^treet,  New  York  City;  W.  M.  McBurnie,  307  West  Fifty-first  street,  New 
York  City;  George  H.  Bush,  220  Main  street,  Buffalo,  N.  Y. ;  Nahmke  Ken- 
nels, East  Patchogue,  Long  Island,  N.  Y.;  Alexander  Pope,  120  Tremont 
street,  Boston,  Mass.;  Hornell-Harmony  Kennels,  Hornellsville,  N.  Y.;  Joe 
Lewis,  Cannonsburgh,  Penn. ;  Woodland  Kennels,  Woodstock,  Ontario,  Canada; 
High  Rock  Cocker  Kennels,  Lynn,  Mass. ;  O.  B.  Gilman,  40  Boylston  street, 
Boston,  Mass.;  B.  F.  Lewis,  Philadelphia,  Penn.;  L.  F.  Whitman,  418 
Wabash  avenue,  Chicago;  Woodstock  Spaniel  Kennels,  Woodstock,  Ontario, 
Canada;  W.  A.  Pinkerton,  191  Fifth  avenue,  Chicago;  Dr.  J.  S.  Niven,  Lon- 
don, Ontario,  Canada.— ED. 


THE   FIELD   SPANIEL.  331 

set-on  of  tail,  able  to  get  over  a  six-foot  fence  with  ease, 
and  work  a  tubby-built  eighteen-inch  dog  to  a  stand-still  in 
half  a  day's  work.  Why?  Because  she  had  grand  supple 
shoulders,  powerful  loins  and  quarters,  well-bent  stifles  and 
hocks,  the  possession  of  which  gave  her  what  Fox  Terrier 
men  call  ''liberty,"  while  he,  though  of  great  muscular 
development  and  short-coupled,  was  tied  and  cloddy  in 
action.  If  with  length  of  body  and  shortness  of  limb  are 
combined  freedom  of  shoulder  action,  straight  front  legs, 
and  powerful  sickle  hocks  and  stifles,  with  wide  and  mus- 
cular loins,  you  have  a  dog  surprisingly  active  for  his 
inches.  "Idstone,"  than  whom  no  modern  writer  knew 
better  what  a  Spaniel  should  be,  speaks  of  the  ' '  low,  long, 
and  strong  Spaniel."  Now,  I  insist  on  it,  that  if  your  Field 
Spaniel  has  not  this  conformation,  he  can  not  be  called  a 
good  one. 

The  next  distinguishing  characteristic  of  a  good  speci- 
men is  his  stamp  of  head,  including  muzzle,  eyes,  ears,  and 
"expression."  The  general  contour  and  profile  of  the  face 
and  skull  should  resemble  the  shape  of  a  reduced  Gordon 
Setter,  but  with  longer,  lower-hanging,  and  more  heavily 
feathered  ears,  darker  eyes,  and  rather  clearer-cut  muzzle. 
The  faults  to  be  avoided  are  heavy,  chumpy,  "Newfound- 
land" heads,  high  set-on  ears,  full  eyes,  and  throaty  necks 
on  the  one  hand,  and  attenuated,  tapering  muzzles,  with 
shallow  lips,  and  flat,  narrow,  brainless  skulls,  fishy  eyes 
too  light  in  color,  and  showing  a  limited  intelligence  and 
uncertain  temper  on  the  other.  Good  temper,  intelligence, 
docility,  and  courage  must  be  plainly  indicated  in  the 
expression  of  the  head  and  face;  and  a  very  important 
matter,  also,  is  that  the  nose  should  be  large,  moist,  and 
wide-spread,  showing  the  possession  of  high  capacity  for 
keen  scent. 

Another  necessary  "mark"  of  a  good  Field  Spaniel  is 
the  coat.  The  flatter  and  straighter  the  coat  lies  to  the 
body  the  better,  but  it  must  not  be  thin  and  open,  and  the 
heavily  coated  ones  are  often  inclined  to  be  wavy,  especially 
over  the  neck  and  rump.  It  must  be  of  good  soft  texture, 


332  THE   AMERICAN   BOOK   OF  THE   DOG. 

and  very  bright  and  glossy.  A  harsher  texture  of  coat  is 
generally  dull  in  color,  but  some  very  excellent  Spaniels  have 
rather  strong  hair,  and  this  may  be,  as  is  by  their  owners 
contended,  an  indication  of  strength  of  constitution.  It  is 
certainly  quite  becoming  when  brilliant  and  straight,  but 
the  tendency  of  such  coats  is  to  be  scant  and  open.  The 
feather  should  always  be  long  and  straight,  or  slightly 
wavy,  very  heavy  on  ears,  back  of  fore  legs,  under  the  belly, 
and  behind  the  thighs,  as  well  as  between  the  toes,  which 
gives  the  feet  great  protection. 

A  great  deal  of  interesting  contention  and  discussion 
has  periodically  been  occasioned  by  the  interbreeding  of 
Cockers  and  Springers,  and  I  have  been  asked  to  give  my 
opinion  as  to  the  line  of  distinction  to  be  drawn  between 
the  Field  and  the  Cocker  Spaniel.  Well,  the  actual 
difference  is  mainly  one  of  size  and  proportions,  and  also 
of  temperament.  Field  Spaniels  range  from  twenty-eight 
to  forty-live  pounds  weight.  Some  exceed  this  latter  limit, 
but  I  think  this  is  not  desirable.  Cocker  Spaniels  should 
weigh  from  eighteen  to  twenty-five  pounds,  or,  as  the  stand- 
ard defines,  even  twenty-eight  pounds.  Field  Spaniels 
should  be  proportionately  lower,  heavier  in  bone,  and  gen- 
erally slower,  and  longer  in  body;  Cocker  Spaniels,  pro- 
portionately higher,  but  strong  in  muscle,  more  active,  and 
cobbier  in  build.  While  both  classes  should  display  the 
essential  characteristics  of  the  sporting  Spaniel,  more  dash 
and  energy,  and  general  eagerness  (which  their  more  active 
build  and  smaller  size  indicate),  are  expected  from  the 
smaller  breed;  and,  on  the  other  hand,  a  closer  range, 
stricter  obedience  to  signs  and  whistles,  and  the  same  dili- 
gence in  work  should  be  looked  for  in  the  larger  and 
heavier  breed.  The  Cocker  may  be  shorter  in  head  and 
body,  but  should  exhibit  a  well-formed  muzzle,  showing  a 
well-developed  nose  and  flews,  with  lips  well  pendent;  and 
in  both  breeds  the  ears  should  be  long  in  leather,  and  with 
good  feather,  set  low  on  head,  especially  so  with  the  larger 
breed.  It  is  esteemed  a  point  of  beauty  in  Field  Spaniels  to 
have  the  peak  of  the  occiput  well  marked  and  rising  in  a 


THE   FIELD    SPANIEL.  333 

distinct  point  above  the  origin  or  highest  set- on  of  the  ears, 
which  must  fall  close  to  the  head,  and  hang  flat  to  the 
cheek  or  side  of  the  head.  The  height  at  shoulder  of  a 
twenty-two-pound  Cocker  should  not  exceed  twelve  inches, 
and  eleven  inches  would  be  better.  A  twenty-eight-pound 
dog  may  go  to  thirteen  and  a  half  inches,  but  not  more. 
A  Field  Spaniel  of  forty-five  pounds  should  not  exceed 
fifteen  inches  at  shoulder,  and  a  smaller  one,  say  thirty-five 
pounds,  should  be  fourteen  inches  or  less.  Straight  legs  in 
front  should  be  insisted  upon,  especially  in  the  Cocker 
breed,  but  not  to  the  extent  that  obtains  in  Fox  Terriers. 
A  narrow  front  is  not  desirable,  and  a  good  depth  of  chest 
and  well-rounded  barrel,  with  ribs  well  developed  toward 
the  loins,  which  should  be  muscular  and  strong,  are  partic- 
ularly required.  The  hind  quarters  should  be  muscular,  and 
the  first  and  second  thighs  and  hocks  well  bent,  and  so 
arranged  as  to  give  vigorous  spring  to  the  movement.  Cow- 
hocks,  or  hocks  out-turned,  are  objectionable.  The  feet  are 
of  great  importance,  and  should  be  strong  and  well  fur- 
nished with  heavy,  solid,  thick  pads,  horny  soles,  and 
knuckles  well  sprung  and  held  close  together,  not  splay -, 
footed  or  spreading. 

Appended  is  the  standard  for  the  modern  Field  Spaniel, 
or  Springer,  adopted  by  the  American  Spaniel  Club,  with 
scale  of  points  for  judging: 

Value.  Value. 

Head 15    Legs  and  feet 15 

Ears 10    Body  and  quarters 20 

Neck 5    Coat  and  feather 15 

Shoulders  and  arras 10    Tail 10 

Total 100 

General  appearance. — Considerably  larger,  heavier,  and 
stronger  in  build  than  the  Cocker;  the  modern  Springer 
is  more  active  and  animated  than  the  Clumber,  and 
has  little  of  the  sober  sedateness  characteristic  of  the 
latter.  He  should  exhibit  courage  and  determination  in 
his  carriage  and  action,  as  well  as  liveliness  of  tempera- 
ment, though  npt  in  this  respect  to  the  same  restless  degree 


334  THE    AMERICAN   BOOK   OF   THE   DOG. 

generally  possessed  by  the  Cocker.  His  conformation 
should  be  long  and  low,  more  so  than  the  Cocker. 

Intelligence,  obedience,  and  good  nature  should  be 
strongly  evident.  The  colors  most  preferred  are  solid  black 
or  liver,  but  liver  and  white,  black  and  white,  black  and 
tan,  orange,  and  orange  and  white  are  all  legitimate  Spaniel 
colors. 

Head  (value  15)  long  and  not  too  wide,  elegant  and 
shapely,  and  carried  gracefully;  skull  showing  clearly  cut 
brows,  but  without  a  very  pronounced  "stop;"  occiput 
distinct  and  rising  considerably  above  the  set-on  of  the  ears; 
muzzle  long,  with  well-developed  nose,  not  too  thick  immedi- 
ately in  front  of  the  eye,  and  maintaining  nearly  the  same 
breadth  to  the  point;  sufficient  flew  to  give  a  certain  square- 
ness to  the  muzzle  and  avoid  snipiness  or  wedginess  of 
face;  teeth  sound  and  regular;  eyes  intelligent  in  expres- 
sion, and  dark,  not  showing  the  haw,  nor  so  large  as  to  be 
prominent  or  goggle-eyed. 

Ears  (value  10)  should  be  long  and  hung  low  on  the  skull, 
lobe-shaped,  and  covered  with  straight  or  slightly  wavy 
silky  feather. 

Neck  (value  5)  long,  graceful,  and  free  from  throatiness, 
tapering  toward  the  head;  not  too  thick,  but  strongly  set 
into  shoulders  and  brisket. 

Shoulders  and  arms  (value  10). — The  shoulder-blades 
should  lie  obliquely  and  with  sufficient  looseness  of  attach- 
ment to  give  freedom  to  the  fore  arms,  which  should  be  well 
let  down. 

Legs  and  feet  (value  15). — The  fore  legs  should  be 
straight,  very  strong,  and  short;  hind  legs  should  be  well 
bent  at  the  stifle-joint,  with  plenty  of  muscular  power. 
Feet  should  be  of  good  size,  with  thick,  well-developed 
pads,  not  flat  or  spreading. 

Body  and  quarters  (value  20)  long,  with  well-sprung 
ribs,  strong,  slightly  arching  loins,  well  coupled  to  the 
quarters,  which  may  droop  slightly  toward  the  stern. 

Coat  and  feather  (value  15). — The  coat  should  be  as 
straight  and  flat  as  possible,  silky  in  texture,  of  sufficient 


THE  FIELD    SPANIEL. 


335 


denseness  to  afford  good  protection  to  the  skin  in  thorny 
coverts,  and  moderately  long.  The  feather  should  be  long 
and  ample,  straight  or  very  slightly  wavy,  heavily  fringing 
the  ears,  back  of  fore  legs,  between  the  toes,  and  on  back 
quarters. 

Tail  (value  10)  should  be  strong,  and  carried  not  higher 
than  the  level  of  the  back. 


THE  COCKER  SPANIEL. 


BY  J  '  OTIS  FELLOWS. 


>HE  Spaniel  is  one  of  the  oldest  breeds  of  dogs  in 
existence,  and  several  other  and  later  breeds  owe 
some  of  their  best  qualities  to  crosses  on  this 
breed.  So  far  as  known,  the  Spaniel  is,  as  the  name 
indicates,  a  native  of  Spain.  From  there  he  was  introduced 
into  England;  and  by  crossing,  interbreeding,  and  manip- 
ulation, several  strains  have  been  thrown  off  from  the 
original  parent  stock.  Dr.  John  Caius,  writing  in  1576, 
says: 

There  be  gentle  dogs  serving  the  hawk,  and  first  of  the  Spaniel,  called  in 
Latin  Hispaniolus.  There  be  two  sorts,  viz.;  the  first  findeth  game  on  the 
land ;  the  other  findeth  game  on  the  water.  Such  as  delight  on  the  land  play 
their  parts  either  by  swiftness  of  foot,  or  by  often  questing  to  search  out  and 
to  spring  the  bird  for  further  hope  of  advantage,  or  else  by  some  secret  sign 
and  privy  token  bewray  the  place  where  they  fall.  The  first  kind  of  such 
serve  the  hawk,  the  second  the  net  or  train.  The  first  kind  have  no  peculiar 
names  assigned  unto  them,  save  only  that  they  be  denominated  after  the 
bird  which  by  natural  appointment  he  is  allotted  to  take,  for  the  which  consid- 
eration the  Cocker  is  thus  named,  as  spoken  of  hereafter.  Such  be  called  dogs 
for  the  falcon,  the  pheasant,  the  partridge,  and  such  like.  The  common  sort  of 
people  call  them  by  one  general  word,  namely,  Spaniels,  as  though  this  kind  of 
dogs  came  originally  and  first  of  all  out  of  Spain.  The  most  part  of  their 
skins  is  white,  and  if  they  be  marked  with  any  spots,  they  are  commonly  red, 
and  somewhat  great  therewithal,  the  hairs  not  growing  in  such  thickness  but 
that  the  mixture  of  them  may  easily  be  perceived.  We  are  to  choose  him  by 
his  shape,  beauty,  mettle,  and  cunning  hunting;  his  shape  being  discerned  in 
the  good  composition  of  his  body,  as  when  he  hath  a  round,  thick  head,  a 
short  nose,  a  long,  well-compact,  and  hairie  eare,  broad  eyde  lips,  a  clear,  red 
eie,  a  thick  neck,  a  broad  chest,  short  and  well-knit  joints,  round  feete,  strong 
cleys,  good  round  ribs,  a  gaunt  bellie,  a  short,  broad  back,  a  thick,  bushy,  and 
long-haired  taile,  and  all  his  body  generally  long  and  well  haired.  He  is  small, 
with  a  wanton  playing  taile,  and  a  busie  laboring  nose,  and  to  give  his  master 
warning  of  what  he  scenteth,  he  doeth  it  by  whimpering  and  whinnies,  making 
him  adapted  for  covert  shooting.  They  vary  in  size  from  fourteen  to  twenty 
pounds  in  weight. 

22  C337) 


338 


THE  AMERICAN   BOOK   OF  THE   DOG. 


The  Doctor  then  describes  other  varieties  of  the  Span- 
iel family  as  follows: 

That  kind  of  a  dog  whose  service  is  required  in  following  upon  the  water, 
partly  through  a  natural  towardness  and  partly  by  diligent  teaching,  is  endued 
with  that  property.  This  sort  is  somewhat  big  and  of  a  measurable  greatness, 
having  long,  rough,  and  curly  hair,  not  obtained  by  extraordinary  trades,  but 
given  by  nature's  appointment;  yet,  nevertheless,  friend  Gessner,  I  have 
described  and  set  him  out  in  this  manner;  Pulled  and  knotted  from  the  shoul- 
ders to  the  hindermost  legs  and  to  the  end  of  his  taile,  which  I  did  for  use  and. 
custom's  cause;  that  being,  as  it  were,  made  somewhat  bare  and  naked  by 
shearing  of  such  superfluity  of  hair,  they  might  achieve  more  lightness  and 


COCKER    SPANIEL— CHAMPION    DOC. 
Owned  by  Mr.  A.  Clinton  Wilmerdmg,  163  Broadway,  New  York  City. 

swiftness  and  be  less  hindered  in  swimming,  so  troublesome  and  needless  a 
burden  being  shaken  off.  This  kind  of  dog  is  properly  called  aquaticus,  a 
Water  Spaniel,  because  he  frequenteth  and  hath  recourse  to  the  water,  where  all 
his  game  and  exercise  lieth,  whereupon  he  is  likewise  named  a  dog  for  the 
duck,  because  in  that  quality  he  is  excellent.  We  use  them,  also,  to  bring  us 
our  bolts  and  arrows  out  of  the  water,  missing  our  mark  whereat  we  directed 
our  level,  which  otherwise  we  should  hardly  recover;  and  oftentimes  they 
restore  to  us  our  shafts,  which  we  thought  never  to  see,  touch,  or  handle  again 
after  they  were  lost,  for  which  circumstances  they  are  called  inquisitors,  search 
ers,  and  finders. 

Further  on,  the  good  Doctor  alludes  to   "the  delicate, 
neat,  and  pretty  kind  of  dogs  called  the  Spaniel  gentle,  or 


THE   COCKER   SPANIEL.  339 

the  comforter,  in  Latin  melitocus  or  totos"   of  which  he 
writes: 

There  is  besides  those  which  we  have  already  delivered,  another  sort  of 
gentle  dogs  in  this  our  English  soil,  but  exempted  from  the  order  of  the  resi- 
due. Notwithstanding  many  make  much  of  those  pretty  puppies  called  Span- 
iels gentle,  and  though  some  suppose  that  such  dogs  are  fit  for  no  service,  I 
dare  say,  by  their  leaves,  they  be  in  a  wrong  box. 

Thus  it  will  be  seen  that  the  Cocker  is  one  of  the  oldest 
and  bluest-blooded  strains  of  the  Spaniel  family.  He  was 
the  friend  and  companion  of  nobility — in  an  age  when  few 
other  dogs  were  thus  honored. 

Stonehenge,  in  "Dogs  of  the  British  Isles,''  says: 

The  Cocker  can  scarcely  be  described,  inasmuch  as  there  are  so  many 
varieties  in  different  parts  of  Great  Britain.  He  may  however  be  said,  in  gen- 
eral terms,  to  be  a  light,  active  Spaniel,  of  about  fourteen  pounds  weight  on 
the  average,  sometimes  reaching  twenty  pounds,  with  very  elegant  shape,  a 
lively  and  spirited  carriage.  In  hunting  he  keeps  his  tail  down,  like  the  rest 
of  his  kind,  works  it  constantly  in  a  most  rapid  and  merry  way;  alone  he  may 
be  known  from  the  Springer,  who  also  works  his,  but  solemnly  and  deliber- 
ately, without  the  same  pleasurable  sensations  which  are  displayed  by  the 
Cocker.  The  head  is  round  and  the  forehead  raised;  muzzle  more  pointed 
than  the  Springer,  and  the  ears  less  heavy,  but  of  good  length  and  well  clothed 
with  soft,  wavy  hair,  which  should  not  be  matted  in  a  heavy  mass.  The  eye  is 
of  medium  size,  slightly  inclined  to  w7ater,  but  not  to  weep  like  the  toy  dog's; 
body  of  medium  length,  and  the  shape  generally  resembling  that  of  a  small 
Setter.  These  dogs  are  well  feathered,  and  the  work  for  their  feet  and  legs 
requires  them  to  be  strong  and  well  formed.  The  coat  should  be  thick  and 
wavy,  but  not  absolutely  curled,  which  last  shows  the  cross  with  the  Water 
Spaniel,  and  that  gives  too  much  obstinacy  with  it  to  conduce  to  success  in 
covert  shooting.  The  color  varies  from  plain  liver  or  black  to  black  and  tan, 
white  and  black,  white  and  liver,  white  and  red,  or  white  and  lemon.  Differ- 
ent breeds  are  noted  as  possessing  some  one  of  these  in  particular,  but  I  am 
not  aware  that  any  one  is  remarkable  as  belonging  to  a  superior  race. 

An  old  work  on  "The  Dog,"  condensed  from  Stone- 
henge's  "British  Rural  Sports  and  the  Farmer's  Calendar," 
contains  the  following  description  of  Spaniels: 

Field  Spaniels  are  divided  into  two  principal  groups,  the  Springers,  or  large 
variety,  used  for  all  sorts  of  covert  game  ;  the  Cockers,  kept  more  especially 
for  woodcocks,  to  follow  which  they  must  be  of  smaller  size.  The  Springer 
is  again  subdivided  into  the  Clumber,  Sussex,  Norfolk,  and  other  strains,  while 
the  Cocker  includes  the  Devonshire  and  Welsh  varieties,  as  well  as  many  other 
strains  without  special  names.  The  Cocker  Spaniel  is  a  much  smaller  dog 
than  the  Springer,  seldom  exceeding  eighteen  pounds  in  weight  for  bitches 


340  THE   AMERICAN   BOOK   OF  THE  DOG. 

and  twenty-five  pounds  for  dogs.  He  is  much  more  active  than  the  Springer, 
and  of  any  color,  more  or  less  marked  with  white,  and  closely  resemble  each 
other  in  other  respects.  They  are  nearly  mute,  but  whimper  slightly  on  a 
scent,  and  when  well  broken  they  distinguish  each  kind  of  game  by  the  note 
they  give  out,  especially  the  woodcock,  of  which  they  are  very  fond. 

Mr.  A.  W.  Langdale,  a  prominent  English  authority, 
quoted  by  Vero  Shaw  in  his  work  on  "The  Dog,"  says  of 
the  Cocker: 

Smaller  than  their  brethren  the  Springers,  they  work  in  a  totally  different 
style,  and  in  a  hedgerow  or  copse,  with  a  thick  underwood,  are  invaluable. 
They,  like  the  Springers,  are  not  noisy,  but  when  they  do  give  tongue  it  is  of 
such  a  silvery  note  as  to  warm  the  ardent  sportsman's  blood.  .  .  .  Cockers 
run  into  all  sorts  of  color,  from  lemon  and  white,  orange  and  white,  and 
orange,  most  generally  seen  in  Wales;  to  the  liver  and  white,  liver  and  tan,  and 
roan,  generally  seen  South;  and  the  black  and  tan  of  the  North. 

In  undertaking  to  write  an  article  on  the  Cocker  Spaniel, 
I  may  say  that  I  am  no  novice  in  this  field.  I  have  bred 
them  for  thirty-five  years.  Spaniels  that  I  bred  won  prizes 
at  the  first  bench  shows  in  America,  and  since  1881  we 
have  won  over  1,200  prizes.  It  was  I  that  first  advocated  a 
club  to  improve  the  Spaniels  of  America.  I  was  selected 
by  the  breeders  of  America  as  one  of  the  committee  to  frame 
a  standard  for  the  Cocker  Spaniel  Club,  which  is  the  oldest 
specialty  club  in  America.  The  club  organized  in  1881  is 
still  alive,  with  a  large  number  of  members ;  it  is  now  called 
the  American  Spaniel  Club. 

Before  1881  anything  and  everything  that  looked  like  a 
Spaniel  was  called  a  Cocker;  they  were"  generally  liver  or 
liver  and  white  in  color,  long-legged,  snipy-headed  dogs, 
without  any  fixed  type.  All  that  was  required  of  them 
was  to  hunt,  and  they  certainly  could  do  that.  The  Cocker 
soon  improved  under  the  American  Spaniel  Club  standard; 
but  they  were  not  content  with  a  long,  low  dog,  but  must 
have  the  longest  and  lowest.  The  standard  was  made  by 
practical  men,  of  wide  experience  with  Cockers  in  the 
field,  and  of  course  they  made  a  standard  for  a  dog  fit  for 
work;  but  a  lot  of  dude  judges,  who  never  fired  a  gun  or 
saw  a  Cocker  at  work,  step  into  the  ring  and  spoil  the 
whole  thing  by  giving  prizes  to  dogs  that  are  cripples, 


THE   COCKER  SPANIEL.  341 

practically  unfit  foi  field-work.  The  worse  the  dog  is 
deformed  the  more  prizes  he  can  win.  I  know  I  am  right 
in  the  stand  I  have  taken  against  the  longest  and  lowest 
abortion,  and  others  know  it — prominent  breeders,  profes- 
sional breakers,  practical  sportsmen.  Editors  of  sports- 
men's journals,  and  many  others  who  lov.e  a  Cocker,  often 
write  me  to  indorse  the  position  I  have  taken,  but  what 
good  I  can  do  is  all  spoilt  by  the  non- sporting  dude 
judges. 

For  a  general  purpose  dog  there  is  nothing  that  can 
compare  with  the  Cocker  Spaniel.    He  can  take  the  place  of 


COCKER   SPANIEL— CHAMPION    BRANT.* 
Owned  by  Mr.  Charles  M.  Nelles,  Brant  Cocker  Kennels,   Brantford,  Ontario,  Canada. 

the  Pointer,  Setter,  Hound,  or  Retriever;  is  not  too  large 
for  the  house,  makes  a  good  watch-dog,  and  can  be  taught 
as  many  tricks  as  a  Poodle;  but  to  secure  a  concentration 
of  power  and  endurance  he  must  have  a  short  back,  with 
immense  loin  for  the  weight  of  the  dog;  his  legs  must  not 

*  Champion  Brant  (A.  K.  C.  S.  B.  5856)  was  whelped  September  1, 
1885,  by  Champion  Obo  II.,  out  of  Blackie  III.  His  winnings  are:  First, 
Buffalo,  1887;  three  specials,  Buffalo,  1887;  first,  Newark,  N.  J.,  1887;  first, 
Providence,  R.  I  ,  1887;  first,  Boston,  1887;  championship,  New  York,  1887; 
championship,  Philadelphia,  1887;  championship,  Detroit,  1887;  four  specials, 
Detroit,  1887;  championship,  Utica,  1888;  special..  Utica,  1888;  championship, 


342  THE  AMERICAN   BOOK   OF   THE   DOG. 

be  too  short,  but  straight  and  well  boned,  and  the  feet  must 
be  firm  and  cat-like,  not  splay-footed,  loose,  and  flabby,  as 
we  too  often  see  them  nowadays. 

Until  1887  we  imported  or  owned  about  all  the  good 
Field  and  Cocker  Spaniels  that  crossed  the  pond — Bob  III., 
Benedict,  Beatrice,  Dash,  Hindoo,  Creole,  Bub,  Jenny, 
Dandy,  Dinah,  Miss  Obo  II.,  Newton  Abbott  Lady,  Obo, 
Jr.,  Young  Obo,  Burdette  Bob,  Bonanza,  Bobo,  etc. 
The  Jacobs  strain  was  useless  for  field-work;  the  Farrow, 
or  Obo,  strain  not  much  better,  as  they  had  never  done 
any  work  in  England.  The  Burdette,  or  Boulton-Beverley, 
were  the  best  of  all;  crossed  with  native  stock,  they  are 
hard  to  beat  in  the  field. 

In  the  early  days  of  dog  shows,  Mr.  F.  Burdette,  the 
first  secretary  of  the  Birmingham  Dog  Show,  had  a  breed  of 
Cockers  collected  near  Latterworth,  England,  where  they 
had  been  bred  for  many  years  by  an  old  family  named 
Footman.  They  were  unrivaled  in  appearance  as  well  as  at 
work,  taking  every  prize  for  which  they  competed;  they 
were  black  and  tmn  in  color.  After  Mr.  Burdette' s  death,  most 
of  them  were  sold  to  Mr.  W.  W.  Boulton,  Beverley,  York, 
England;  and  en  passant  I  wish  to  say  that  Mr.  Boulton  is 
the  oldest  Cocker  Spaniel  breeder  in  the  world,  as  well  as 
the  greatest  authority.  Mr.  O.  S.  Hubbell,  .while  visiting 
in  England  in  1873,  purchased  a  pair  of  Mr.  Boulton  for 
which  he  paid  $900.  They  were  Beau  and  Blanche; 
black,  with  rich  tan  markings.  Blanche  whelped,  October, 
1874,  eight  puppies;  one  of  the  litter,  Belle,  was  pre- 
sented to  Mr.  A.  C.  Waddell.  She  died  in  my  kennel  in 
1886,  but  I  had  several  litters  from  her  by  Champion  Hornell 
Dandy. 

Bullock's  Spaniels,  as  exhibited  originally,  were  very 
beautiful,  but  by  no  means  typical,  for  the  very  good 

New  York,  1888,  one  of  best  kennel,  Philadelphia,  1888;  championship,  Bos- 
ton, 1888;  championship,  Buffalo,  1888;  championship,  Syracuse,  1888;  two 
specials,  Syracuse,  1888;  championship,  London,  Ontario,  1888;  special,  "Cham- 
pion of  Canada/'  London,  Ontario,  1888;  championship,  St.  Paul,  1888;  special, 
St.  Paul,  1888.— ED 


MISS    MILLIE   FELLOWS  AND   HER   PET,  CHAMPION    HORNELL  JOCK. 


THE   COCKER   SPANIEL.  343 

reason  that  they  were  crossed  with  the  Irish  Water  Spaniel 
to  get  the  immense  feather  and  ear  so  much  admired  in 
the  early  days  of  dog  shows  in  England,  but  which  so 
deeply  impregnated  the  strain  with  the  fatal  top-knot  and 
rough  coat  that  it  has  never  been  altogether  eradicated. 
This  strain  was  also  crossed  with  the  Sussex;  an  own  brother 
to  the  famous  Flirt  and  Nellie  (blacks)  was  the  pale  liver- 
colored  George,  who,  mated  with  his  sister  Nellie,  produced 
one  of  the  very  best-looking  Sussex  Spaniels  ever  exhibited. 
This  will  surely  account  for  the  eccentricities  of  color  crop- 
ping up  now  and  again  in  the  progeny.  The  tendency 
being  to  reproduce  the  original  color  of  their  ancestors,  the 
color,  or  odd  color,  is  often  intensified  by  the  Obo  cross,  as 
no  one  can  say  how  this  strain  was  produced;  and  when 
papers  and  letters  were  sent  to  Mr.  Farrow  about  the  red 
and  buff  puppies  got  by  Silk  and  Obo  II.,  he  was  silent  as 
an  oyster.  I  do  not  object  to  the  reds  and  buffs  myself,  for 
Hornell  Velda,  a  buff,  was  the  best  Cocker  ever  seen  in 
America;  and  Brantford  Red  Jacket,  a  red,  and  Hornell 
Dick,  a  buff,  although  of  different  type,  are  as  good  as 
any  we  have.* 

Many  of  the  oldest  strains  of  Cockers  were  lemon,  red, 
and  roan,  or  these  colors  •  were  more  or  less  intermingled 
with  white.  In  1861,  I  bought  a  buff  Cocker  from  a  sailor 


*  Prominent  among  the  many  breeders  of  Cocker  Spaniels  in  the  United 
States  and  Canada  may  be  mentioned;  J.  P.  Willey,  Salmon  Falls,  N.  H.;  L. 
F.  Whitman,  418  Wabash  avenue,  Chicago;  American  Cocker  Kennels,  box 
277,  Philadelphia,  Penn.;  Dr.  J.  S.  Niven,  London,  Ontario,  Canada;  A.  C. 
Wilmerding,  163  Broadway,  New  York  City;  Hornell-Harmony  Kennels, 
Hornellsville,  N.  Y. ;  O.  B.  Oilman,  40  Boylston  street,  Boston,  Mass. ;  Andrew 
Laidlaw,  "Woodstock,  Ontario,  Canada;  Woodland  Kennels,  Woodstock, 
Ontario,  Canada;  George  H.  Bush,  220  Main  street,  Buffalo,  N.  Y.;  R.  P. 
Keasby,  6  Saybrook  place,  Newark,  N.  J.;  G.  Bell,  Toronto,  Ontario,  Canada; 
C.  A.  Hinckley,  Lee,  Mass.;  Charles  M.  Nelles,  Brantford,  Ontario,  Canada; 
Miss  E.  W.  Lewis,  192  President  street,  Brooklyn,  N  Y. ;  High  Rock  Cocker 
Kennels,  Lynn,  Mass.;  William  Barnes,  4444  Wood  street,  Manayneck,  Philadel- 
phia, Penn.;  George  T.  Whitehe'ad,  441  Chestnut  avenue,  Trenton,  N.  J., 
Alexander  Pope,  120  Tremont  street,  Boston,  Mass. ;  Frank  F.  Dole,  115  Blake 
street,  New  Haven,  Conn.;  Woodstock  Spaniel  Kennels,  Woodstock,  Ontario, 
Canada;  R.  C.  Grignon,  Kaukauna,  Wis. — ED. 


344  THE   AMERICAN   BOOK    OF   THE  DOG. 

at  Port  Colbourne.  She  had  been  stolen  in  England;  was 
buff-colored,  and  the  exact  image  of  Velda. 

The  real  old-fashioned  Cocker  is  not  often  seen  nowa- 
days; the  present  generation  of  fanciers  never  saw  them, 
and  surely  never  used  them  afield.  They  simply  don't 
know  what  they  were,  or  what  they  ought  to  be.  As  to 
the  absurdly  long  body  and  low  formation,  which  I  hold  to 
be  not  only  a  deformity,  but  altogether  contrary  to  the 
true  formation  and  type,  it  must  also  be  against  the  very 
utility  of  the  breed. 

Mr.  J.  E.  Hosford,  of  Washington,  D.  C.,  in  an  article  in 
the  American  Field,  speaking  of  the  good  qualities  of  the 
Cocker,  says: 

There  is  something  about  this  breed  of  dogs  that  at  once  appeals  to  our 
sympathy,  and  no  man  can  own  one  and  not  feel  constantly  on  the  alert  to 
defend  it  from  abuse,  slander,  or  misrepresentation.  There  is  no  other  breed 
of  dogs  that  will  win  one's  affection  so  completely,  and  hold  it  so  firmly.  A 
new  Spaniel  puppy  may  never  replace,  in  its  owner's  heart,  some  favorite  old 
Setter  or  Pointer,  but  it  will  be  sure  to  find  a  place  there,  and  hold  it,  too, 
against  all  comers.  When  the  shooting  season  closes,  the  Pointer  and  Setter 
are  laid  up  in  ordinary  until  the  approach  of  the  next  season.  If  owned  by 
the  right  man,  they  are  regularly  exercised  and  carefully  groomed  every  day, 
and  their  grateful  master  never  tires  of  relating  their  wonderful  prowess  in  the 
field.  They  rest  on  their  laurels  contentedly. 

Not  so  with  the  little  Cocker.  He  and  his  game  have  no  close  season.  He 
seems  to  know,  intuitively,  a  thousand  and  one  little  tricks  and  ways  to  please, 
entertain,  and  surprise  his  master,  in  and  out  of  season.  He  is  constantly  at 
work  in  a  busy,  merry,  unobtrusive  way.  He  knows  your  words  better  than 
you  do  yourself,  and  governs  himself  accordingly.  If  you  want  him,  he  is 
right  here  before  you,  wagging  his  tail  and  looking  at  you  intently,  as  if  to 
say,  "  I  am  ready  for  anything."  If  you  don't  want  him,  he  is  away  in  some 
corner  quietly  dozing,  or  apparently  sleeping,  but  always  on  the  alert.  He  is 
never  troublesome.  He  is  always  able  to  take  care  of  himself,  and  to  do  a 
great  deal  else  besides. 

He  is  a  most  noble  and  faithful  guardian  of  your  property  and  person. 
While  he  is  in  your  possession,  chickens  do  not  scratch  the  flower  beds  and 
wallow  around  the  front  porch;  rats  do  not  come  into  the  cellar,  nor  strange 
cats  into  the  back  yard;  your  peaches  and  melons  ripen  before  they  are  stolen, 
and  burglars  do  not  tamper  with  your  locks  and  window-catches.  If  anything 
goes  wrong  about  the  place,  the  little  Cocker  is  almost  always  the  first  one  to 
notice  it,  and  the  almost  human  wTay  in  which  he  comes  and  tells  you  of  it 
touches  certain  chords  in  the  heart  which  do  not  vibrate  too  often.  They  are 
the  handiest  little  companions  of  the  whole  dog  race.  They  ask  for  but  little 
room,  little  food,  and  little  care,  yet  in  return  they  give  a  value  tangible  only 


THE   COCKER  SPANIEL.  345 

to  those  who  know  how  to  love  and  appreciate  a  good  and  faithful  dog.  Their 
worth  can  not  be  told  in  dollars  and  cents,  nor  compared  with  other  stand 
ards. 

I  know  of  no  other  breed  of  dogs  so  generally  useful  and  worthy  of  man's 
companionship  at  all  times  and  places,  in  town  or  country;  although  I  have  not 
had  persona]  experience  on  all  game,  yet  from  close  study  of  their  ways  and 
methods,  and  a  knowledge  of  their  great  intelligence,  I  am  sure  they  would  not 
be  out  of  place  whether  one  hunts  ducks  or  squirrels,  'coons,  rabbits,  partridges, 
pheasants,  woodcocks,  or  wild  turkeys,  and  I  was  not  at  all  surprised  to  read 
in  a  recent  number  of  the  American  Field  that  one  of  our  best-known  sports- 
men had  found  them  very  serviceable  while  hunting  deer.  I  know  the  Cocker, 
and  am  not  afraid  to  say  that  he  can  make  himself  more  or  less  useful  on  any 
game  that  is  hunted;  and  unless  a  sportsman  confines  himself  to  some  game  to 
which  another  breed  of  dogs  is  better  adapted,  there  is  no  more  useful  dog  for 
him  to  own  than  a  bright,  active,  intelligent  Cocker  Spaniel. 

Now  let  me  ask,  Why  are  they  not  more  popular?  Why  are  not  thousands 
instead  of  hundreds  sold  every  year?  When  they  can  be  utilized  at  all  times, 
and  kept  in  city  or  country,  in  the  house  or  outdoors,  at  an  office  or  a  hotel, 
why  are  they  counted  by  ones  and  twos  to  a  county  here  and  there,  while 
every  town  has  almost  as  many  Setters,  Pointers,  and  Hounds  as  there  are 
men  and  boys  who  shoot? 

It  is  simply  because  the  merits  and  good  qualities  of  the  Cocker  are  not 
known  to  the  masses.  It  is  because  our  favorites  have  not  been  advertised  and 
pushed  to  the  front  as  the  other  bre.eds  of  sporting  dogs  have;  and  if  Cocker 
breeders  and  Cocker  owners  would  institute  field  trials  for  Cockers,  thousands 
of  sportsmen  would  come  and  see  them  run  who  are  now  ignorant  of  their  use- 
fulness .  Then  we  should  see  the  noble  little  dog  take  his  place  at  the  front, 
where  he  belongs. 

And  not  only  as  a  field  dog  does  the  Cocker  excel,  but  as 
a  pet,  a  house  dog,  a  companion  for  children  or  adults,  he 
is  without  a  rival.  When  desired  for  this  purpose  alone, 
he  may  be  bred  down  to  twenty  pounds  or  under.  No  dog- 
is  more  affectionate  than  the  Cocker,  and  none  has  so  many 
ways  of  showing  his  affection.  None  is  more  faithful  as  a 
guardian  of  persons  or  property,  and  none  more  quiet,  un- 
obtrusive, or  cleanly  in  his  habits. 

In  training  for  the  house  or  field,  be  gentle,  but  firm  and 
patient;  as  soon  as  the  dog  knows  what  you  want,  he  will 
do  it  himself.  Never,  under  any  circumstances,  use  a  whip 
or  speak  harshly  to  a.  Cocker;  you  can  coax  him  to  do  any- 
thing, but  he  will  not  stand  the  whip. 

It  is  only  a  matter  of  patience  to  teach  a  Cocker  to  do 
anything  that  a  dog  can  do.  They  can  almost  talk.  I  now 


346 


THE   AMERICAN   BOOK    OF   THE  DOG. 


own  two  that  can  sing,  and  they  will  accompany  any  instru- 
ment that  is  played.  The  small  dogs  seem  to  learn  tricks 
quicker  than  the  large  ones,  and  a  Cocker  never  forgets. 
My  son  taught  a  little  Cocker  forty-two  distinct  tricks  in  a 
year.  This  little  dog  was  better  and  quicker  than  any  two 
messenger-boys  in  the  country;  was  also  a  master  hand  on 
woodcock  and  ruffed  grouse. 

A  friend  of  mine  has  a  handsome  black  and-tan  Cocker, 
Neptune  by,uame,  who  considers  himself  the  chosen  friend, 
the  guardian,  the  nurse,  the  messenger  of  the  family. 

When  his  master 
comes  into  the 
house,  after  an 
absence  of  a  few 
hours,  the  little 
dog  is  beside  him- 
self with  joy.  He 
leaps,  dances,  and 
rubs  against  the 
man,  and  in  va- 
rious ways  shows 
his  delight.  When 
his  master  sits 
down,  the  little 
dog  will,  if  in- 
vited, leap  upon 
NEPTUNE,  his  lap,  rub  and 

caress  him  in  a  perfect  ecstasy  of  joy;  then,  without 
waiting  for  a  command,  he  will  leap  down,  run  and  get  the 
man's  slippers  and  bring  them  to  him,  as  much  as  to  say, 
"Here,  my  friend,  put  these  on  and  be  comfortable."  If 
the  master  lies  down  on  the  sofa,  the  dog  lies  beside  him, 
either  on  the  sofa  or  the  floor,  as  directed,  and  anyone 
who  approaches  him  while  asleep  is  warned  by  an  angry 
growl  and  a  show  of  ivory  that  the  atmosphere  about 
there  is  unhealthy  for  intruders.  If  the  master  move 
uneasily  or  moan  in  his  sleep,  Nep  is  up  in  an  instant, 
peering  anxiously  into  his  face,  whining,  and  showing  the 


THE   COCKER  SPANIEL.  347 

most  intense  anxiety  for  his  charge.  This  same  delight  is 
shown  when  any  member  of  the  family  returns  from  even 
a  temporary  absence,  and  the  same  solicitude  and  care  are 
bestowed  upon  any  member  of  the  family  who  lies  down 
during  the  day.  At  night,  Nep  seems  to  think  it  his  duty 
to  guard  the  room  of  his  young  mistress.  He  sleeps  just 
outside  her  door,  and  anyone  who  attempts  to  approach 
it  gets  into  trouble  at  once. 

There  are  no  small  children  in  this  family^  but  when 
friends  call  and  bring  children  the  little  dog  is  delighted 
beyond  measure.  He  at  once  takes  charge  of  the  little 
folks,  and  not  even  their  own  mother  is  allowed  to  punish 
them  in  his  presence.  After  caressing  and  romping  with 
them  a  few  minutes,  he  sails  away,  gets  his  ball,  brings 
it,  and  in  all  but  words  invites  his  playmates  to  a  friendly 
game.  They  throw  the  ball  through  the  halls,  he  retrieves 
it,  lays  it  at  their  feet,  and  looking  up  at  them,  beseeches 
them,  with  his  great  dark  eyes  and  eager,  excited  motions, 
to  throw  it  again. 

He  plays  hide-and-seek  with  them  as  enthusiastically 
and  as  skillfully  as  any  one  of  their  own  number.  Some 
member  of  the  party  holds  him  and  "blinds"  him,  by  plac- 
ing his  long,  silky  ears  over  his  eyes.  When  the  signal  is 
given  and  he  is  released,  he  races  through  the  house  with 
the  speed  of  a  Greyhound  for  a  few  moments,  in  a  kind 
of  general  search.  Then  he  cools  down  and  goes  about  his 
work  more  systematically.  He  approaches,  looks  at,  and 
smells  of  each  child  in  the  room — even  if  there  be  a  dozen 
of  them — apparently  in  order  to  learn  which  one  is  missing. 
Then  he  starts  on  a  tour  of  the  rooms  and  halls,  searching 
for  both  foot  and  body  scent,  and  soon  locates  the  fugitive, 
no  matter  where  he  or  she  may  be.  The  little  children 
frequently  step  into  a  closet  and  close  the  door,  but  Nep 
finds  them  all  the  same,  and  having  smelt  at  the  thresh- 
old until  sure  he  is  right,  sets  up  an  emphatic  barking  that 
soon  brings  the  hidden  treasure  laughing  and  screaming 
into  the  light. 

Once  when  playing  this  game  with  him  a  little  girl  hid 


348  THE   AMERICAN    BOOK    OF   THE   DOG. 

on  top  of  the  piano.  Nep  hunted  her  through  all  the 
rooms,  and  finally  decided  that  she  was  in  the  parlor.  He 
ran  sniffing  and  yelping,  eagerly,  from  side  to  side  of  this 
room,  looking  in  and  behind  every  chair.  Finally  he 
took  up  her  trail  and  followed  it.  He  found  the  chair 
from  which  she  had  stepped  onto  the  piano.  Leaping  into 
this,  he  stood  up,  with  his  feet  on  the  back  of  it,  and  this 
enabled  him  to  see  the  little  miss  perched  on  the  center  of 
the  lid.  His  barking,  though  most  excited  and  vigorous,  was 
well-nigh  drowned  in  the  shouts  and  screams  of  laughter 
in  which  all  the  spectators,  old  and  young,  joined. 

Nep  carries  notes  and  packages  up  and  down  stairs  and 
anywhere  about  the  house,  thus  saving  his  master  and 
mistress  many  a  step.  These  charges  he  always  delivers 
to  the  person  to  whom  he  is  sent,  and  it  is  useless  for  any- 
one else  to  try  to  get  them  from  him  en  route.  When 
the  postman  rings  the  bell,  Nep  goes  down,  gets  the  mail, 
and  delivers  it  safely  to  his  mistress. 

What  is  he  worth?  What  do  you  imagine  it  would 
take  to  buy  such  a  friend  if  you  owned  him  ?  He  is  worth 
his  weight  in  gold,  but  that  wouldn't  buy  him.  His  owner 
would  as  soon  sell  one  of  his  own  children  as  Nep.  And 
yet  any  well-bred  Cocker  may  be  taught  all  these  things,  if 
only  a  reasonable  amount  of  time,  effort,  patience,  and 
horse-sense  be  devoted  to  the  task. 

In  breeding,  I  do  not  try  to  have  one  dog  correct  faults 
in  the  other,  but  try  to  have  both  as  perfect  as  I  can  get 
them.  I  do  not  object  to  in-and-in  breeding,  as  it  fixes  the 
type,  and  I  have  never  yet  seen  any  bad  results  from  it, 
such  as  deformities  or  loss  of  capacity  to  learn. 

After  the  bitch  has  been  bred,  I  give  her  exercise  until 
she  is  ready  to  whelp.  I  always  give  her  a  quiet  place 
to  whelp  in,  with  plenty  of  room.  The  bitch  always  seems 
to  do  better  alone,  but  care  must  be  taken,  in  cold  weather, 
that  the  puppies  shall  not  get  chilled. 

Cocker  Spaniels  are  always  docked.  I  do  it  when  the 
puppies  are  from  one  to  two  weeks  old,  before  they  can 
move  around  much;  then  the  wound  heals  quicker.  The 


THE    COCKER   SPANIEL. 


349 


operation  is  painless.  Let  one  person  hold  the  puppy's  tail 
on  a  block  of  wood,  while  another,  with  a  sharp  chisel  and 
mallet,  removes  just  half  of  the  tail. 

All  well-bred  Cockers  are  natural  hunters  and  retriev- 
ers, and  their  senses  of  sight  and  smell  are  more  acute  than 
those  of  either  the  Setter  or  Pointer.  Captain  McMurdo  told 
me  that  when  breaking  Setters  and  Pointers  he  always 
had  his  little  Cocker  bitch  at  heel,  and  he  could  tell  by  her 
actions  when  near  game,  although  the  Setters  and  Pointers, 
ranging  ahead,  would  give  no  notice  of  it.  When  a  Cocker 
is  under  control,  he  is  trained.  He  should  be  taught  to 


COCKER    SPANIEL— CHAMPION    MIKE.* 
Owned  by  Mr.  Charles  M.   Nelles,  Brant  Cocker  Kennels,  Brantford,  Ontario,  Canada. 

stop  instantly  and  to  come  in  promptly.  He  will  always 
work  his  ground  thoroughly,  but  must  not  range  out  of 
gunshot,  because  he  flushes  his  game,  and  if  this  be  done 
too  far  from  the  gun,  you  lose  your  chance  for  a  shot. 

I  do  not  train  my  dogs  to  drop  to  shot  or  wing,  but 

*  Champion  Mike  (A..  r  K.  C.  S.  B.  7321)  was  whelped  June,  1884,  by 
Champion  Frank,  out  of  Nellie.  His  winnings  are:  First,  St.  Paul,  Minn., 
1887;  first,  Milwaukee,  Wis.,  1887;  second,  Utica,  N.  Y.,  1888;  first,  Phila- 
delphia, Penn.,  1888;  special,  Philadelphia,  Penn.,  1888;  first,  St.  Paul,  Minn., 
1888;  championship,  Baltimore,  Md.,  1888;  championship,  Chicago,  111.,  1889; 
championship,  Toronto,  Ontario,  1889. — ED. 


350  THE   AMERICAN   BOOK    OF   THE   DOG. 

always  to  stop,  and  at  the  word.  I  think  this  is  important; 
for  while  you  have  the  dog  under  better  control  at  a  "  close 
charge,"  in  such  a  position  he  does  not  have  a  chance  to 
use  his  eyes.  I  have  often  seen  them  stand  on  their  hind 
feet  and  jump  up  to  see  where  the  bird  has  gone.  Our  best 
woodcock- shooting  here  is  in  tall  corn.  Woodcock  dogs  I 
do  not  train  to  drop  to  shot  or  wing,  but  let  them  go  for 
all  they  are  worth;  then  the  bird  will  top  the  corn,  and  you 
can  get  a  fair  shot. 

A  writer  in  Land  and  Water  gives  some  excellent  advice 
regarding  the  training  of  Spaniels,  and  I  can  not  do  better 
than  to  quote  a  few  paragraphs  in  his  own  words.  He  says: 

Most  people  are  contented  if  a  dog  will  work  within  gunshot  and  push  out 
the  game  for  him  to  kill.  Almost  any  mongrel  with  the  necessary  practice  and 
experience  will  do  this,  but  I  assume  that  the  sportsman  takes  a  pride  in  his 
dogs,  likes  to  have  good-looking  and  well-bred  ones,  and  if  he  wishes  to  shoot 
in  comfort  and  in  good  form  when  he  uses  Spaniels,  it  is  quite  as  necessary  to 
have  them  well  trained  as  any  other  breed  of  sporting  dog.  I  will  therefore 
give  such  directions  as  experience  has  taught  me  are  useful.  I  know  no  dog 
that  more  repays  the  trouble  of  breaking  yourself  (that  is,  if  you  have  the 
requisite  knowledge  and  patience)  than  the  Spaniel,  who,  from  the  natural  tove 
and  affection  he  has  for  his  master  more  than  any  other  dog,  should  be  more 
ready  to  work  for  him  than  anyone  else.  The  Spaniel's  natural  love  of  and 
ardor  in  hunting  require  a  firm  hand  over  him  until  he  is  matured.  There  is 
an  old  saying  that  "  a  Spaniel  is  no  good  until  he  is  nearly  worn  out."  There 
is  a  great  deal  of.  truth  in  this,  and  the  Spaniel's  enthusiasm  must  be  largely 
reduced  before  he  can  get  down  to  cool,  earnest  work.  I  recollect  an  old  bitch 
that  belonged  to  a  Devonshire  sportsman  that  was  so  cunning  that  she  used  to 
catch  as  much  game  as  he  shot.  When  the  old  man  died,  I  bought  the  bitch, 
as  she  had  a  great  reputation;  but  she  was  far  too  much  of  a  pot-hunter  for  me. 
I  could  have  backed  her  against  a  moderate  gun  any  day.  Spaniels  get  very 
knowing  in  working  to  the  gun  after  a  few  months,  and  it  is  astonishing  what 
efforts  they  will  make  to  maneuver  the  game  out  to  the  shooter.  I  have  seen 
numberless  instances  of  this,  particularly  in  hedgerow  shooting,  when  I  have 
frequently  seen  a  clever  old  dog,  on  winding  game,  not  make  a  rush  at  it,  which 
would  have  had  the  effect  of  sending  it  out  on  the  other  side,  but  pop  through 
the  fence  and  push  it  out  to  you.  This,  as  I  have  said,  is  only  acquired  by  ex- 
perience; and  a  young,  vigorous  Spaniel  will  sometimes  push  up  the  game  irre- 
spective of  lending  any  aid  to  the  gun.  A  really  good  Spaniel,  even  when  he 
is  busy  questing  and  bustling  about,  should  always  have  an  eye  to  the  gun, 
and  to  work  to  it  instead  of  for  himself  and  his  own  gratification  and  amuse- 
ment. 

You  can  not  well  begin  too  early  to  train  young  Spaniels  to  get  their  noses 
down  and  to  hunt  close;  to  work  thoroughly  every  bit  of  ground  and  every 


THE   COCKER   SPANIEL.  351 

hole  and  corner  that  can  possibly  shelter  a  head  of  game.  This  is  what  the 
Spaniel  is  required  to  do  when  he  is  grown  up;  and  in  order  to  inculcate  this 
habit  in  him,  and  to  discourage  him  in  what  he  is  so  prone  to  do — namely,  go 
ahead — you  should  begin  by  flinging  small  bits  of  meat  or  boiled  liver  into 
small  patches  of  turnips  in  a  garden,  or  small  patches  of  thick  bushes,  or  any 
kind  of  covert  that  will  cause  him  to  seek  for  it  with  his  nose  and  not  with  his 
eyes.  By  no  means  enter  your  young  Spaniels  to  rabbits  if  you  can  avoid  it ; 
they  take  to  them  naturally  when  they  get  the  chance,  and  there  is  no  fear 
of  their  not  having  the  opportunity  soon  enough.  Enter  them  to  winged  game, 
by  all  means,  and  for  this  purpose  get  an  old  cock  partridge,  cut  one  wing, 
and  put  him  into  a  small  patch  of  thick  covert. 

Never  take  young  Spaniels  into  large  or  thick  coverts  where  they  can 
get  away  from  under  your  eye.  Confine  your  working  ground  to  small  bits 
of  covert,  patches  of  turnips,  bushes,  bits  of  gorse,  anything,  in  fact,  where 
you  will  be  likely  to  have  thorough  control  over  them,  and  where  they  are  in 
reach  of  an  attendant,  whom  you  should  always  have  with  you  to  turn  them 
to  your  whistle.  I  have  found  it  a  first-rate  plan  to  take  them  out  on  the 
sides  of  rivers  and  ponds,  where  there  are  lots  of  moor- hens,  and  plenty  of 
sedge  and  rushes;  let  them  hunt  in  the  rushes  till  they  are  tired,  and  a  morn- 
ing's work  of  this  kind  will  do  them  more  good  than  anything  I  know  of. 
They  soon  become  fond  of  the  work;  it  teaches  them  to  hunt  close,  and  they 
are  perfectly  under  the  control  of  yourself  and  assistant. 

Teach  them  early  to  drop  to  hand  and  shot,  and  spare  no  pains  about  it; 
this  is  a  part  of  a  Spaniel's  education  which  is  generally  neglected.  I  know 
many  men  who,  instead  of  making  them  drop  to  shot,  make  them  come  to 
heel,  using  the  words  "come  around,"  or  "heel."  It  answers  every  purpose; 
and  as  it  brings  every  dog  to  you,  and  he  has  to  work  right  away  from  you 
again  when  he  gets  the  signal,  it  has  its  advantages  in  keeping  them  under  con- 
trol; but  on  the  whole  I  prefer  the  dropping  to  shot  and  wing  instantly.  It  is 
difficult  to  make  a  Spaniel  drop  to  fur;  and  if  you  can  keep  him  from  chasing, 
merely  putting  up  hares  and  rabbits,  but  not  following  them  after  they  are 
started,  rest  satisfied  that  little  more  is  necessary  or  desirable. 

I  once  saw  an  interesting  thing  of  this  kind.  I  was  shooting  with  a  gen- 
tleman near  Southampton,  in  one  of  his  coverts,  to  a  team  of  small  Clumbers; 
we  were  both  standing  in  a  ride,  and  saw  a  charming  little  bitch  feathering 
near  us  toward  the  ride.  Just  as  she  got  to  it,  out  popped  a  rabbit  and  scuttled 
down  the  ride,  followed  out  of  the  covert  by  the  bitch;  but  as  soon  as  she 
cleared  the  wood  and  was  in  the  ride,  close  on  to  the  rabbit,  which  she 
had  not  seen  till  then,  down  she  dropped,  entirely  of  her  own  accord. 
She  had  not  seen  either  of  us,  neither  did  we  know  that  we  were  each  observ- 
ing this  pretty  bit  of  work  until  we  compared  notes  a  few  minutes  after,  and 
agreed  that  we  had  never  seen  anything  better.  It  is  rather  difficult  to 
describe,  but  to  me  it  was  worth  all  the  afternoon's  shooting,  and  it  made  an 
impression  at  the  time  which  is  as  fresh  as  ever  now.  She  was,  I  need 
scarcely  say,  thoroughly  broken. 

If  it  is  desired  to  make  young  Spaniels  take  water,  and  they  show  any 
disinclination  to  it,  the  best  plan  is  to  take  them  to  a  stream  which  you  can 


352  THE   AMERICAN   BOOK   OF   THE  DOG. 

wade  through.  Walk  through  to  the  other  side,  and  they  will  probably 
follow  you  at  once  ;  if  they  do  not,  walk  straight  away  from  the  opposite  side 
and  go  out  of  sight;  they  will  come  after  making  a  little  fuss  about  it.  If 
you  have  not  a  suitable  shallow  stream,  but  are  obliged  to  make  use  of  a  deep 
river  for  your  purpose,  get  an  attendant,  whom  they  do  not  know,  to  hold 
your  puppies  while  you  go  round  by  a  bridge  out  of  their  sight,  and  come 
down  opposite  to  them,  and  follow  the  instructions  I  have  given  above. 
Remember  many  young  dogs  have,  at  first,  a  great  fear  of  getting  out  of  their 
depth  all  at  once,  but  will  freely  dabble  into  a  shallow  stream;  so  that  it  is  best 
to  lead  them  on  by  degrees.  Once  having  got  off  their  legs,  and  finding  that  it 
is  an  easy  matter  to  swim,  there  will  be  no  further  trouble.  Always  choose 
warm  weather  for  this  teaching.  There  is,  however,  no  better  plan  of  teach- 
ing them  to  take  to  the  water  than  letting  them  hunt  moor-hens.  As  to  whether 
Spaniels  should  be  taught  to  retrieve  or  not  will  depend  upon  what  your 
requirements  are,  the  number  you  use,  and  so  on. 

If  you  own  but  one  dog,  by  all  means  take  all  the  trouble  you  can  to  per- 
fect him  in  this  business;  and  for  this  purpose  you  should  choose  your  whelp 
from  a  strain  that  retrieves  naturally. 

If  you  work  three  or  four  Spaniels  together,  unless  they  are  thoroughly 
broken,  they  all  want  to  retrieve,  and  it  is  often  the  cause  of  much  trouble. 
Nothing  looks  worse  than  to  see  several  dogs  all  tugging  at  one  bird,  except, 
perhaps,  the  bird  itself  afterward.  If  your  dogs  are  sufficiently  broken  and 
under  command,  and  will  drop  to  shot  or  come  to  heel,  and  you  can  direct 
either  one  of  them  to  find  the  wounded  game  while  the  others  remain  down  or  at 
heel,  you  can  let  them  take  it  in  turn  which  shall- be  allowed  the  pleasure  and 
honor  of  recovering  the  wounded;  but  how  rarely  one  sees  Spaniels  so  well 
under  command  as  this.  In  the  case  of  a  team  of  Spaniels,  I  think  it  better 
that  they  should  not  be  allowed  to  retrieve,  and  this  duty  is  better  confined  to 
a  regular  retriever. 

It  is  a  good  plan  with  young  Spaniels  to  walk  round  a  covert  toward  even- 
ing, when  pheasants  are  out  at  feed  in  the  stubbles,  having  an  attendant  with 
you  to  prevent  them  getting  into  covert,  and  walk  in  a  zigzag  way  about  the 
stubbles;  you  can  generally  give  them  plenty  of  practice  in  this  way,  and  enter 
them  well  to  the  scent  of  winged  game.  If  your  puppies  do  not  readily  return 
to  your  whistle,  but  show  a  disposition  to  go  on,  turn  your  back  upon  them  and 
go  the  other  way,  which  will  generally  have  the  desired  effect;  and  a  rate  or  a 
crack  of  the  whip  from  your  attendant  will  greatly  aid  it.  If  a  puppy  is  too 
fast,  put  up  a  fore  leg  in  his  collar,  or  tie  a  strap  tightly  round  one  hind  leg 
just  above  the  hock;  but  neither  of  these  must  remain  long  without  changing, 
or  you  will  produce  swelling  and  inflammation.  Apart  from  the  pleasure  and 
satisfaction  there  is  in  shooting  to  dogs  of  your  own  breaking,  there  is  this 
advantage,  that  they  learn  to  understand  your  ways,  and  to  know  thoroughly 
your  every  look  and  motion,  while  you  at  the  same  time  perfectly  understand 
them. 

In  selecting  young  Spaniels  to  break,  if  you  do  not  breed  your  own,  be 
most  particular  in  getting  them  from  a  good  working  strain,  of  a  sort  that  a 
friend  of  mine  designates  as  "  savage  for  work."  To  work  Spaniels  in  thick, 


THE   COCKER   SPANIEL. 


353 


large  woods  you  should  always  go  with  them  to  work  them,  or  send  someone 
they  are  accustomed  to  work  with,  or  they  will  become  wild  or  slack. 

A  writer  in  the  American  Field  also  gives  the  following 
good  points  on  this  subject : 

I  have  had  an  extensive  experience  in  training  Cockers,  and  have  always 
found  them  exceedingly  tractable  and  anxious  to  learn.  I  use  the  same  meth- 
ods for  yard-breaking  that  are  commonly  used  for  Setters.  The  Cocker  is  a 
natural  retriever,  and  readily  fetches  "  to  hand."  My  old  dog  Gyp  I  trained 
with  great  care,  and  had  him  completely  under  my  control.  He  would  charge 


COCKER    SPANIEL— JERSEY* 
Owned  by  Mr.  J.  P.  Willey,   Salmon  Falls,   N.  H. 

at  word  or  sign  as  far  as  he  could  hear  or  see  me,  and  would  obey  the  motion 
of  my  hand  in  sending  him  in  any  direction.  He  was  obedient  to  whistle,  so 
that  when  in  motion  one  whistle  would  stop  him,  and  when  stopped,  one 
whistle  would  start  him  in  whatever  direction  I  motioned.  One  long  whistle 
would  call  him  to  my  feet.  He  would  follow  to  heel  anywhere. 

*  Jersey  (A.  K.  C.  S.  B.  8519),  a  solid  black  Cocker  Spaniel,  was  whelped 
July  16,  1887.  Sire,  Champion  Obo  II. ;  dam,  P.  Cullen's  Darkie.  Winnings: 
Second,  open  and  puppy  class,  New  York,  February,  1888;  V.  H.  C.,  open 
and  puppy  class,  Philadelphia,  Penn.,  March,  1888;  first,  open  and  puppy 
class,  Boston,  Mass.,  April,  1888;  special,  best  Cocker  puppy,  Boston,  Mass., 
April,  1888;  special,  best  Spaniel  puppy,  Boston,  Mass.,  April,  1888;  first,  open 
23 


354  THE   AMERICAN   BOOK    OF   THE   DOG. 

When  a  year  old  I  took  him  out  for  woodcock— the  first  time  lie  was  ever 
in  cover.  I  had  not  been  on  woodcock  ground  ten  minutes  before  he  gave 
voice.  I  knew  that  meant  birds,  and  immediately  gave  one  short,  sharp  whistle, 
which  brought  the  dog  to  a  stop  Taking  a  good  position,  I  gave  one  more 
whistle,  when  he  started  quickly,  giving  voice,  and  flushed  a  woodcock,  which 
my  friend  shot.  Calling  to  Gyp  to  "  fetch,"  he  obeyed  instantly,  bringing  the 
bird  in  tenderly.  We  hunted  about  four  hours,  raised  nine  woodcocks  and  shot 
seven.  Gyp  found  them  all,  and  retrieved  every  dead  bird,  never  failing  to 
obey  me,  and  never  flushed  a  bird  until  ordered  to  go  on,  always  giving  me 
warning  of  the  presence  of  a  bird  by  giving  voice.  I  have  been  unfortunate  in 
not  living  in  a  partridge  country  since  I  was  a  boy,  and  for  that  reason  have 
never  trained  a  Cocker  for  partridge-hunting;  still  I  believe  I  can  take  any  one 
of  my  Cockers  and  hunt  partridges  as  I  have  woodcocks;  but  my  friends  who 
use  Cockers  for  partridge-hunting  usually  allow  the  dog  to  "  tree"  the  birds. 
All  the  experience  I  have  had  with  Cockers  on  partridges  was  when  a  boy,  and 
without  any  trouble  I  had  my  little  Spaniel  trained  so  he  would  circle  about 
a  bird,  giving  voice  as  he  ran,  gradually  drawing  the  circle  smaller  until  he 
flushed  the  bird,  which  would  seek  refuge  in  the  nearest  tree. 

For  fuller  and  more  complete  instructions  on  this  sub- 
ject, I  would  commend  to  my  readers  a  little  book  called 
"  The  Spaniel  and  its  Training,"  by  D.  Boulton  Herrold. 
It  is  an  excellent  work,  and  is  invaluable  to  owners  of 
Spaniels. 

I  would  advise  anyone  about  to  purchase  a  Cocker  to 
get  a  puppy,  and  train  it  for  his  own  use.  The  best 
worker  I  ever  owned  was  trained  on  the  street — going  to 
and  from  my  shop.  Buy  a  dog  that  will  mature  at  about 
twenty-six  or  twenty-eight  pounds,  a  cobby  dog,  that 
stands  about  fourteen  inches  at  shoulder,  with  head  of 
medium  length,  good  straight  legs,  and  hard,  round  feet. 

and  puppy  class,  Albany,  N.  Y.,  June,  1888,  special,  best  Cocker,  Albany, 
N.Y.,  June,  1888;  V.  H.  C.,  open  class,  Buffalo,  N.Y.,  September,  1888;  second, 
open  class,  Syracuse,  N.  Y  ,  September,  1888;  first,  open  class,  London,  Can- 
ada, September,  1888;  special,  best  Cocker  dog,  London,  Canada,  September, 
1888;  first,  open  class,  New  York,  February,  1889;  first,  open  class,  Troy, 
N.  Y.,  February,  1889;  first,  open  class,  Albany,  N.  Y.,  March,  1889;  first, 
open  class,  Rochester,  N.  Y.,  March,  1889;  first,' open  class,  Boston,  Mass., 
April,  1889;  second,  challenge  class,  Chicago,  111.,  April,  1889;  second,  chal- 
lenge class,  Philadelphia,  Penn.,  April,  1889;  first,  challenge  class,  New  York, 
February,  1890;  special,  best  American-bred  Cocker,  New  York,  February, 
1890;  second,  challenge  class,  Boston,  Mass.,  April,  1890;  first,  challenge  class, 
Buffalo,  N.  Y.,  April,  1890;  special,  best  American-bred  Cocker,  Buffalo, 
N.  Y.,  April,  1890. 


THE   COCKER  SPANIEL. 

Avoid  the  long-headed,  long-bodied,  and  short,  crooked- 
legged  dog  as  you  would  a  serpent,  for  it  is  a  physical 
impossibility  for  them  to  do  good  work;  also  avoid  a  dog 
with  a  light- colored  eye.  For  my  part,  I  always  prefer  a 
bitch,  as  they  learn  easier,  are  more  faithful,  and  never 
want  to  roam  in  quest  of  sexual  pleasures. 

Following  is  the  American  Spaniel  Club's  standard  for 
Cocker  Spaniels: 

Value.  Value. 

General  appearance 10    Length 5 

Head 15    Legs  and  feet 15 

Eyes 5    Coat 10 

Ears 10    Tail 5 

Neck  and  shoulders 10 

Body 15  Total , 100 

A  Cocker  Spaniel  must  not  weigh  more  than  twenty - 
eight  pounds  nor  less  than  eighteen  pounds. 

General  appearance,  symmetry,  etc.  (value  10). —  A 
Cocker  Spaniel  should  be  eminently  a  well-built,  graceful, 
and  active  dog,  and  should  show  strength  without  heavi- 
ness or  clumsiness.  Any  of  the  Spaniel  colors  is  allowable, 
but  beauty  of  color  and  marking  must  be  taken  into  con- 
sideration. 

Head  (value  15)  should  be  of  fair  length,  muzzle  cut  off 
square,  tapering  gradually  from  the  eye,  but  not  snipy. 
Skull  rising  in  a  graceful  curve  from  the  stop,  and  with  the 
same  outline  at  the  occiput,  the  curve-line  being  natter,  but 
still  curving  at  the  middle  of  the  skull.  The  head  should 
be  narrowest  at  the  eyes  and  broadest  at  the  set-on  of  ears, 
and  viewed  from  the  front,  the  outline  between  the  ears 
should  be  a  nearly  perfect  segment  of  a  circle.  The  stop 
is  marked,  and  a  groove  runs  up  the  skull,  gradually  be* 
coming  less  apparent,  till  lost  about  half-way  to  the  occiput. 
This  prevents  the  domed  King  Charles  skull,  and  there 
should  not  be  the  heaviness  of  the  large  Field  Spaniel,  but 
a  light,  graceful,  well-balanced  head.  Jaws  level,  neither 
undershot  nor  pig- jawed;  teeth  strong  and  regular. 

Eyes  (value  5)  round  and  moderately  full.  They  should 
correspond  in  color  with  the  coat. 

Ears  (value  10)  lobular,  set  on  low;  leather  fine  and  not 


356  THE   AMERICAN   BOOK    OF   THE  DOG. 

extending  beyond  the  nose,  well  clothed  with  long,  silky 
hair,  which  must  be  straight  or  wavy — no  positive  curls 
or  ringlets. 

Neck  and  shoulders  (value  10). — Neck  should  be  suffi- 
ciently long  to  allow  the  nose  to  reach  the  ground  easily; 
muscular,  and  running  into  well-shaped,  sloping  shoulders. 

Body  (value  15). — Ribs  should  be  well  sprung;  chest  of 
fair  width  and  depth;  body  well  ribbed  back;  short  in  the 
coupling;  flank  free  from  any  tucked-up  appearance;  loiif 
strong. 

Length  (value  5),  from  tip  of  nose  to  root  of  tail,  should 
be  about  twice  the  height  at  shoulder,  rather  more  than 
less. 

Legs  and  feet  (value  15). — The  fore  legs  should  be  short, 
strong  in  bone  and  muscle,  straight,  neither  bent  in  nor 
out  at  elbow;  pasterns  straight,  short,  and  strong;  elbows 
well  let  down;  the  hind  legs  should  be  strong,  with  well- 
bent  stifles;  hocks  straight,  looked  at  from  behind,  and  near 
the  ground.  Feet  should  be  of  good  size,  round,  turning 
neither  in  nor  out,  toes  not  too  spreading;  the  soles  should 
be  furnished  with  hard,  homy  pads,  and  there  should  be 
plenty  of  hair  between  the  toes. 

Coat  (value  10)  should  be  abundant,  soft  and  silky, 
straight  or  wavy,  but  without  curl;  chest,  legs,  and  tail 
well  feathered.  There  should  be  no  top -knot  or  curly  hair 
on  top  of  head. 

Tail  (value  5)  usually  docked,  carried  nearly  level  with 
the  back.  At  work  it  is  carried  lower,  with  a  quick,  nerv- 
ous action  which  is  characteristic  of  the  breed. 


THE  CHESAPEAKE  BAY  DOG. 


BY  GEORGE  W.  KIERSTEAD. 

'OR  the  past  dozen  years,  much  has  been  written,  pro 
and  con,  in  regard  to  this  truly  American  dog; 
American  at  least  in  name  and  characteristics,  and, 
I  am  inclined  to  believe,  in  origin.  Strange  to  say,  of  all 
that  has  been  written  and  said,  scarcely  any  two  writers 
agree  as  to  the  general  make-up  and  appearance  of  the 
typical  Chesapeake.  On  this  account,  it  is  extremely 
difficult  to  handle  the  subject  properly,  and  it  is  almost 
dangerous  to  advance  ideas  and  ask  that  they  be  accepted 
as  authority.  Having  always  stood  on  the  results  of  my  own 
investigations  and  experiences  on  this  subject,  and  having 
met,  in  the  press  or  in  the  judge' s  ring,  representatives  from 
every  kennel  of  Chesapeakes  in  the  United  States,  only  to 
see  them  carry  off  the  field  of  battle  or  from  the  show 
bench  only  such  empty  honors  as  were  left  after  all  higher 
honors  were  bestowed  upon  the  strain  of  Chesapeakes  which 
I  champion,  I  fully  appreciate  the  fact  that  a  great  deal 
might  be  quoted  that  has  already  been  written  by  men  to 
whom  I  give  all  due  respect,  but  fear  it  would  be  of  little 
benefit  to  the  reader,  and  that  it  might  only  confuse  the 
uninitiated. 

If  you  will  stop  for  a  moment  and  recall  all  you  have 
heard  and  read  on  the  subject  of  Chesapeakes,  I  will  ask, 
Did  not  the  relater,  with  two  or  three  exceptions,  tell  what 
some  friend  had  seen,  heard,  or  experienced  in  regard  to 
them,  and  tell  little  or  nothing  of  his  own  observations  and 
experience? 

I  know  nothing,  by  experience,  in  regard  to  the  Chesa- 
peake Bay  Dog' s  work  on  the  open  waters  of  Chesapeake 
Bay,  and  do  not  intend  to  discuss  the  subject  from  that 

(357) 


358  THE   AMEEICAN   BOOK   OF   THE  DOG. 

stand-point,  but  from  the  stand-point  wherein  lies  my  expe- 
rience— the  marshes,  lakes,  sloughs,  and  rivers  west  and 
north  of  the  Ohio  River.  I  contend  that  a  dog  that  does 
good  work  in  this  locality  can  and  will  do  good  work  on  the 
open  waters  of  the  bay,  or  in  any  other  ducking- waters;  and 
I  further  contend  that  a  dog,  to  do  good  and  satisfactory 
work  in  this  locality,  must  have  marked  characteristics 
such  as  are,  so  far  as  I  know,  not  possessed  by  any  other 
dog  than  the  Chesapeake.  It  was  owing  to  this  fact  that  I 
became  interested  in  the  study  and  breeding  of  these  dogs 
fifteen  years  ago. 

During  all  the  subsequent  years,  I  have  had  the  best  of 
opportunities  to  study  their  weak  and  their  strong  points,  as 
well  as  their  history.  In  all  these  years  of  breeding,*  I  can 
say  I  did  not  breed  for  profit  alone.  From  the  first,  I  was 
convinced  that  I  was  not  laboring  in  vain,  but  for  a  noble 
purpose.  My  motto  was:  ' '  Breed  for  the  advancement  of  the 
Chesapeake  Bay  Duck  Dog,  and  for  the  benefit  of  sports- 
men." To  this  I  attribute  my  success,  and  success  surely 
has  been  the  result  of  my  efforts.  There  is  not  to-day  a 
Chesapeake  Bay  Dog  in  the  West,  of  anything  more  than 
local  note,  that  does  not  owe  his  or  her  origin  to  the  Sun- 
day-Nellie strain,  of  which  I  have  the  honor  of  being  the 
originator.  As  duck-retrievers,  these  dogs  have  no  supe- 
riors. It  is  a  question  yet  unsettled  by  public  trial  as  to 
whether  their  equals  have  been  produced. 

There  is  no  breed  of  dogs  whose  history  extends  back  so 
far  as  that  of  the  Chesapeakes  of  which  so  little  is  known 
by  the  general  public,  and  the  origin  of  which  is  so  closely 
veiled  in  mystery.  No  such  breed  was  known  in  the  United 
States  until  near  the  end  of  the  eighteenth  century.  There 
is  no  question  as  to  the  fact  that  the  breed  originated  along 
the  Chesapeake  Bay  and  its  tributaries,  and  that  it  derives 
its  name  from  this  fact. 

From  the  best  authorities  obtainable,  we  learn  that  about 
the  year  1807,  the  ship  Canton,  of  Baltimore,  Md.,  fell  in  at 


*See  frontispiece. — ED. 


THE   CHESAPEAKE   BAY   DOG. 


359 


sea  with  an  English  brig,  in  a  sinking  condition,  bound 
from  Newfoundland  to  England.  The  crew  were  taken 
aboard  the  Canton;  also  two  puppies,  a  dog  and  a  bitch. 
The  English  crew  were  landed  on  their  native  soil,  and  the 
two  puppies  purchased  from  the  captain  for  a  guinea 
apiece  and  taken  to  Baltimore. 


I 


CHESAPEAKE    BAY    DOG— POLLY. 
Owned   by  Jay  F.    Towner,    Perryman's,    Maryland, 


The  dog  puppy,  a  dingy  red  in  color,  was  called  Sailor, 
and  was  given  to  a  Mr.  John  Mercer,  of  West  River.  The 
bitch  was  black,  was  called  Canton,  and  was  given  to  Dr. 
James  Stewart,  of  Sparrow  Point.  These  dogs  were  com- 
pactly built— not  so  large  as  the  Newfoundland;  hair 
not  long,  but  thick  and  wavy.  They  individually  attained 


360  THE   AMERICAN    BOOK   OF  THE   DOG. 

great  reputations  as  duck-retrievers,  and  it  is  said  of  them 
that  they  would  follow  a  cripple  for  miles  through  ice  and 
a  heavy  sea,  and  if  successful  in  a  capture  would  always 
bring  it  back  to  their  owner.  The  dog,  Sailor,  became  the 
property  of  a  gentleman  of  wealth,  and  was  taken  to  his 
estate  on  the  east  shore  of  Maryland,  where  his  progeny  is 
still  known  as  the  Sailor  breed. 

There  is  no  positive  proof  that  there  were  ever  any  dogs 
produced  from  the  union  of  these  two— Sailor  and  Canton; 
neither  is  there  anything  to  show  there  was  not  a  produc- 
tion from  them.  The  natural  supposition  is  that  there  was, 
and  it  is  to  these  two  dogs  that  we  feel  we  can  give  credit 
for  the  now  famous  breed  of  Chesapeake  Bay  Duck  Dogs. 

There  is  now  to  be  met  with  a  great  variety  of  what  are 
called  Chesapeake  Bay  Duck  Dogs,  but  my  opinion  is  that 
if  the  pedigree  of  some  of  these  were  obtainable,  you  would 
find  that  a  cross  or  two  has  been  made  on  either  the  Setter 
or  Spaniel,  and  it  is  in  this  way  that  I  account  for  the  dif- 
ferent types  to  be  seen.  The  reason  this  cross-breeding  has 
been  resorted  to  is  that  the  Chesapeake  Bay  Dog,  with  an 
authenticated  pedigree,  is  not  to  be  met  with  every  day, 
and  especially  since  the  close  of  the  late  civil  war,  which 
made  such  devastation  in  the  Southern  States. 

While  there  are  a  number  of  dogs  used  for  breeding  pur- 
poses, and  their  produce  sold  as  Chesapeake  Bay  Dogs, 
which  do  not  even  reproduce  themselves,  much  less  trans- 
mit the  qualities  claimed  for  the  Chesapeake  Bay  Dogs,  yet 
there  are,  and  have  been  for  years,  dogs  used  for  breeding, 
the  progeny  of  which  can  be  depended  upon  to  reproduce 
themselves  and  transmit  this  with  their  other  good  quali- 
ties; and  this  I  consider  the  best  evidence  obtainable  that 
the  Chesapeake  Bay  Duck  Dog  does  now  exist  in  purity, 
and  that  it  is  as  distinct  a  breed  as  the  Setter,  Pointer,  or  any 
other  breed,  though  much  fewer  in  numbers.  Many  breeds 
of  dogs  have  a  tail  of  mongrels  hanging  to  them,  which  is 
in  some  cases  larger  than  the  breed  itself;  and,  unhappily, 
the  Chesapeake  Bay  Dog  happens  to  be  one  of  the  cases 
where  the  tail  is  trying  hard  to  wag  the  dog. 


THE   CHESAPEAKE   BAY   DOG.  361 

For  years  this  promiscuous  breeding — to  which  we  have 
attributed  the  different  types  of  dogs  to  be  seen  which  are 
called  Chesapeake  Bay  Dogs — was  kept  up  along  the  shores 
of  the  Chesapeake  Bay,  and  to  obtain  specimens  that  would 
conform  to  the  description  of  Sailor  and  Canton  was  well- 
nigh  impossible.  Still  they  did,  and  do  now  exist,  and  the 
sportsmen  of  to-day  can  thank  O.  D.  Foulks,  J.  J.  Turner, 
and  one  or  two  others  in  the  East,  and  the  writer  and  one 
other  breeder  in  the  West,  for  the  perpetuation  and  produc- 
tion of  the  most  perfect  specimens  that  are  now  obtainable.  * 

A  correspondent  of  the  American  Field,  who  signs 
"  Banshee,"  gives  this  as  his  idea  of  the  correct  type  of 
this  breed: 

The  genuine  and  true  type  of  the  Chesapeake  Bay  Ducking  Dog  Should 
not  be  taller  than  a  medium-sized  Setter,  though  a  good  deal  heavier  in  body; 
short  legs,  long  neck,  rather  a  pointed  nose,  running  back  into  a  broad  head — 
reminding  one  very  much  of  the  other — with  rather  small  ears,  set  up  high  on 
the  head,  its  face  having  a  very  quick,  bright,  and  intelligent  expression;  with 
short,  straight  hair,  without  a  wrinkle  in  it,  from  one  and  one-fourth  to  one 
and  one-half  inches  long  in  the  longest  places,  and  very  short  about  the  head 
and  legs;  and  under  this  short,  straight  hair,  by  opening  it,  you  will  find  a  kind 
of  fur  about  half  an  inch  long. 

The  characteristics  of  the  Chesapeake  Bay  Dog  that 
especially  commend  him  to  wild  fowl  shooters  are,  first, 
his  good,  hard  common-sense.  There  is  no  retriever  so 
cool-headed  and  quiet  as  the  Chesapeake;  and  for  this  rea- 
son he  does  not  use  up  his  strength  foolishly,  going  after 
he  knows  not  what,  and  many  times  nothing.  You  have 
all  seen  hot-headed  dogs  do  this  frequently. 

Your  Chesapeake  has  the  strength  and  power  to  go  where 
he  will,  and  he  has  the  will  to  go  to  where  your  duck  falls; 
be  it  through  ice,  mud,  rice-beds,  or  what  it  may,  he  will  get 

*  There  are  other  breeders  and  owners  of  good  Chesapeakes,  among  whom 
we  may  mention  the  following:  Chesapeake  Kennels,  Malvern,  Iowa;  Edmond 
Brooke,  41  P.  O.  Square,  Boston,  Mass.;  John  N.  Lewis,  Ramsay,  N.  J. ;  Jay 
F.  Towner,  Ferryman's,  Md.;  Robert  Milbank,  154  West  Forty-eighth  street, 
New  York  City;  Osceola  Kennels,  Osceola  Mills,  Wis.;  Dr.  G.  G.  Hammond, 
Boston,  Mass.;  John  M.  Sellers,  514  La  Salle  avenue,  Chicago;  George  Oliver, 
5604  Wentworth  avenue,  Chicago;  J.  D.  Boardman,  244  Beacon  street,  Boston, 
Mass.— ED. 


362  THE   AMERICAN   BOOK   OF  THE   DOG. 

there.  When  he  does  get  there,  if  the  duck  proves  to  be  a 
cripple,  he  has  the  sticktoitiveness  to  follow  the  trail  until 
he  picks  up  Mr.  Cripple.  He  also  has  a  nose  that  does  not 
require  him  to  go  chasing  all  over  the  marsh  in  the  hope 
of  running  onto  the  duck — he  goes  directly  to  it  and 
retrieves  it.  Many  men  are  of  the  opinion  that  the  Chesa- 
peake depends  largely  on  sight  to  secure  his  game.  It  is  a 
mistaken  idea.  His  nose  is  equal  to  that  of  either  the  Set- 
ter or  Pointer. 

Dr.  James  Norris,  of  Baltimore,  Md.,  writing  of  the 
intelligence  and  sagacity  of  a  noted  dog  of  this  breed,  says: 

There  are  many  wonderful  exploits  attributed  to  this  famous  animal, 
which  pass  the  supposed  bounds  of  animal  instinct  and  enter  the  domain  of 
human  reason;  and  although  substantiated  by  living  witnesses,  I  would  hesi- 
tate to  repeat  them,  lest  they  might  be  pronounced,  at  least,  apocryphal. 
There  is  one  of  his  performances,  not  only  well  authenticated,  but  so  fre- 
quently imitated  by  some  of  his  offspring  that  I  will  relate  it.  When  retriev- 
ing ducks,  after  a  successful  shot  over  decoys,  he  would  not  only  pass  the 
dead,  but  those  that  were  severely  wounded,  and  pursue  those  that  were  only 
slightly  hurt  and  that  human  reason  alone  would  teach  that  unless  immediately 
pursued  would  escape.  After  securing  these,  he  would  collect  the  remainder, 
deposit  them  at  his  master's  feet,  and  quietly  resume  his  position ;  his  eyes, 
barely  above  the  front  of  the  blind,  gazing  as  eagerly  and  intently  as  the 
sportsman  at  the  approaching  game. 

The  Chesapeake  has  a  coat  the  like  of  which  is  possessed 
by  no  other  known  breed;  it  must  be  seen  to  be  appreciated. 
In  color  it  is  dead  grass  or  sedge,  a  reddish-brown  or 
brownish-red — not  liver-color.  In  length  the  hair  is  from 
half  an  inch  to  an  inch  and  a  half;  is  very  dense  and 
wavy — not  curly.  In  the  fall  of  the  year  it  looks  as 
much  like  an  old,  faded-out  buffalo-robe  as  anything  one 
can  imagine.  Like  all  other  haired  animals,  the  Chesa- 
peake Dog  takes  on  a  fall  or  winter  coat.  With  this 
new  coat  each  fall  comes  what  we  shall  call  a  filling  coat, 
that  in  a  great  measure  protects  the  skin  from  coming 
in  contact  with  the  water.  They  will  come  out  of  the  water, 
give  one  or  two  shakes,  and  I  will  defy  any  man  to  find  one 
of  them  wet  down  to  the  skin;  or  even  take  them  before 
they  shake,  and  you  can  not.  This  filling  coat  can  be 
detected  best  by  taking  a  clip  of  the  coat  and  looking  at  the 


THE   CHESAPEAKE  BAY   DOG.  363 

butt-end  of  it.  There  seems  to  be  something  about  it,  say 
what  you  can,  but  you  can't  describe  it,  for  there  is  no 
other  dog's  coat  that  looks  like  it  or  that  acts  like  it  in 
water. 

They  are  intelligent  and  quick  to  catch  your  meaning, 
and  when  they  do,  they  never  forget;  show  them  once  or 
twice  what  you  want  them  to  do,  and  they  will  never  forget 
it.  As  companions  they  are  perfect,  for  the  reason  that 
they  are  fond  of  one  master  and  will  know  no  other  per- 
son. 

There  seems  to  be  no  limit  to  the  amount  of  endurance 
they  possess.  For  example,  I  will  cite  the  dog  Monday, 
by  Sunday,  out  of  Nellie.  This  dog  went  into  the  hands 
of  a  market-shooter  on  the  famous  Kankakee  marshes,  in 
Indiana,  at  the  age  of  about  fifteen  months;  for  nine  years 
worked  on  an  average  four  days  out  of  seven,  from  the 
time  ducks  came,  in  September,  until  they  left,  when  the 
marshes  froze  up.  His  work  was  done  for  a  man  that  aver- 
aged a  thousand  ducks  every  fall.  We  have  an  actual  record 
of  this  dog  having  retrieved  over  eleven  thousand  ducks. 
Yet  Monday  is  no  exception  to  the  rule  as  to  the  matter  of 
endurance.  One  of  these  dogs  will  last  the  most  ardent 
duck-shooter,  with  ordinary  care,  eight  to  ten  years. 

The  general  utility  of  these  dogs  is  a  strong  point  in 
their  favor,  especially  where  a  man  keeps  but  one  dog. 
While  I  claim  they  are  the  best  duck-retrievers  on  earth, 
this  is  not  their  only  virtue;  I  consider  them  the  best 
all-around  dog  a  man  can  keep  about  his  place.  I  use  my 
Chesapeakes  for  jumping  pheasants  and  quails,  treeing 
squirrels,  running  rabbits,  and  in  fact  all  sorts  of  upland 
shooting,  and  I  know  others  who  do  likewise.  As  'coon  dogs, 
they  have  no  equals  at  the  shake-out,  as  they  never  turn  taiL 
As  guardians  of  property  they  are  equal  to  the  Mastiff, 
and  have  not  the  objectionable  features  of  the  Bulldog. 

To  substantiate  these  assertions  as  to  the  general  utility 
of  these  dogs,  I  deem  it  but  just  to  quote  from  a  few  auto- 
graph letters  I  have  received  from  brother  sportsmen  in 
regard  to  them: 


364  THE   AMERICAN    BOOK    OF    THE   DOG. 

"MTJSCATINE,  IOWA,  Nov.C,  1886. 


1 1 


Dear  Sir:  I  presume  you  are  always  glad  to  hear  of 
the  doings  of  the  Chesapeake,  so  I  write  you  a  word  or  two 
about  the  puppy  Jack. 

4 'He  is  growing  very  fast  and  seems  full  of  life  and 
health,  and  yet  is  as  dignified  and  watchful  as  a  Mastiff. 

"  I  took  him  out  hunting,  with  a  fine  Setter  bitch,  a  week 
ago,  not  expecting  to  ask  him  to  do  any  work,  but  only  to 
get  used  to  the  sound  of  a  gun.  He  watched  Nellie  bring 
out  one  or  two  ducks,  and  then  we  shot  three  mud-hens, 
to  try  him.  Nellie  brought  two,  and  Jack  one.  Then  we 
let  one  of  the  boys  go  down  the  lake  and  shoot  mud-hens 
at  various  points  out  of  our  sight.  Making  a  circuit,  we 
came  to  the  lake  a  mile  below,  and  shot  a  mud-hen  or 
two  to  warm  him  up,  and  then  walked  up  the  bank  of 
the  lake,  which  is  full  of  water-lilies,  etc.  Now  we 
couldn't  see  the  mud-hens  killed  by  our  companions, 
and  didn't  know  where  to  look  for  them,  and  Nellie  made 
no  sign  to  get  any  of  them;  but  Jack  did  not  miss  one,  going 
without  a  word  of  command  sometimes  fifty  yards  out  into 
the  lake,  and  in  one  instance  making  three  trips,  and  bring- 
ing a  bird  each  time.  This  may  not  be  new  to  you,  but  I 
must  confess  I  have  never  heard  of  such  work  in  a  young 
dog;  and  no  one  here  has. 

"  He  seems  to  love  the  water,  and  will,  from  choice,  break 
the  ice  along  shore  to  play  in  the  water,  his  magnificent 
coat  being  an  absolute  protection  against  cold  or  wet. 

"My  children  are  perfectly  delighted  with  him;  my  wife 
'never  saw  so  nice  a  dog,'  and  I— well,  I  wouldn't  look  at 
$100  of  any  man' s  money  in  exchange  for  him. 

"  He  is  watchful,  plucky,  and  strong;  embodies  all  I 
could  ask  in  a  Mastiff  or  a  Newfoundland,  and  has  so  many 
other  excellent  qualities,  that  if  he  is  a  fair  sample  of  the 
breed  (and  I  presume  he  is),  I  wonder  that  anyone  would 
prefer  the  breeds  of  single  virtues  to  this  '  omnibus '  dog. 
When  I  ordered  him  I  thought  I  was  getting  a  good 
retriever,  but  I  find  that,  besides  retrieving  better  than  any 


THE   CHESAPEAKE   BAY    DOG.  365 

dog  I  have  ever  seen,  he  excels  also  in  virtues  not  claimed 
for  him." 

" FERGUS  FALLS,  MINN.,  Sept.  23,  1885. 

"  Dear  Sir :  I  have  been  in  the  field  every  day  since  re- 
ceiving the  Chesapeake  puppy.  I  received  him  at  Crooks- 
ton  September  2d,  took  him  immediately  out  of  the  box, 
fed  him,  and  while  sitting  on  the  express  office  steps  with  a 
number  of  my  friends,  the  puppy  saw  a  piece  of  paper  blow- 
ing along  the  road,  and,  without  a  word,  went  and  got  it, 
laid  it  down  at  my  feet,  and  crawled  up  into  my  lap. 

"  I  took  him  into  my  wagon-  the  same  day  and  carried 
him  out  into  the  country  twenty-five  miles;  returned  in 
two  days;  took  him  out  with  me  shooting  mallards  with 
a  number  of  my  friends,  who  wanted  to  see  more  of  him; 
and  the  first  mallard  I  shot  was  in  a  small,  shallow  pond 
of  mud  and  water,  not  deep  enough  to  allow  him  to  swim. 
The  puppy  was  at  heel  when  the  duck  fell,  and  I  did  not 
intend  to  send  him  for  it  alone;  but  without  a  word  he 
started  out,  felt  his  way  timidly  at  first,  reached  the  duck, 
which  was  a  monster,  took  hold  of  its  body -first  and  tried 
hard  to  lift  it  out  of  the  mud  and  water,  but  could  not; 
then  took  hold  of  its  wing  and  tried  to  carry  it,  but  of 
course  would  step  on  it.  He  finally  became  discouraged, 
laid  it  down,  and  commenced  to  cry.  I  at  once  waded  out 
and  helped  him  bring  it  in,  and  you  never  saw  a  prouder 
dog  in  all  your  life,  or  perhaps  a  prouder  man.  All  this 
was  done  without  a  word  of  command  and  entirely  at  his 
own  free  will.  I  would  not  allow  him  to  do  or  try  to 
do  much  work,  as  he  is  too  young;  but  he  has  never  re- 
fused anything  that  I  have  asked,  and  I  can  only  express 
my  opinion  of  him  by  saying  he  is  a  dandy.  Very  intelli- 
gent, he  is  easy  to  control,  and  I  now  have  only  to  point  my 
finger  at-  him  to  make  him  down;  and  on  my  third  trial 
he  would  creep  behind  me  on  a  '  sneak'  on  ducks." 

NOTE. — This  puppy  was  whelped  May  31,  1885,  and  was 
less  than  four  months  old  at  the  writing  of  the  above  letter. 


366  THE   AMERICAN   BOOK   OF   THE   DOG. 

Speaking  of  the  courage  of  the  Chesapeake,  Mr.  Poy- 
neer  says: 

Their  pluck  and  courage  is  indomitable,  and  the  more  incessant  the  shoot- 
ing the  more  tierce  and  determined  they  are  in  their  work;  and  woe  unto  the 
dog  that  gets  too  near  them  when  they  are  after  a  duck.  Upon  several  occa- 
sions, when  shooting  late  in  the  season,  I  have  tested  their  courage  when 
everything  was  frozen  up  but  a  few  open  holes  in  deep  lakes,  these  holes  being 
kept  open  by  the  ducks  congregating  in  such  large  numbers  that  the  water 
could  not  freeze.  The  shooting  at  such  a  place  can  be  imagined.  Three  and 
four  guns  would  be  kept  warm.  At  such  times  I  have  seen  one  Chesapeake 
Bay  Dog  do  all  the  retrieving,  and  every  time  he  brought  a  duck  he  had  to 
climb  on  the  ice.  Other  dogs  in  the  party  got  scared  or  froze  out,  and  could 
not  be  induced  to  go  in. 

I  never  saw  a  Chesapeake  refuse  to  go,  it  matters  not  how  cold  the  weather 
might  be.  A  stiff  current,  with  running  ice,  or  any  obstruction,  is  all  the  same 
to  them.  Quitting  is  not  in  their  vocabulary.  Irish  Water  Spaniels  and 
other  retrievers  have  been  tried  beside  them  on  the  Chesapeake  Bay,  and  inva- 
riably have  quit. 

From  the  above  quotations,  the  reader  may  infer  that 
the  Chesapeake  needs  little  or  no  training.  While  this  is 
true  to  a  certain  extent,  it  is  just  as  necessary  to  subject 
him  to  your  will  as  if  he  were  a  Setter  or  a  Pointer.  My 
plan  in  handling  the  Chesapeake  has  been  to  make  him  my 
companion  as  much  as  possible.  He  will  take  naturally 
to  retrieving  as  soon  as  he  can  run.  Allow  him  to  follow  his 
inclination  in  this  matter,  and  indulge  him  on  every  possi- 
ble occasion.  Teach  him  to  deliver  in  hand,  and  thus  avoid 
the  possibility  of  losing  winged  birds  after  your  dog  has 
brought  them  to  the  boat  or  blind.  By  the  time  he  is  four 
or  six  months  old,  he  will  be  doing  all  sorts  of  retrieving 
for  you  about  the  house. 

When  four  or  six  months  old — if  this  period  comes  in 
the  fall — take  him  to  the  shooting-grounds.  It  is  to  be 
supposed  that  in  his  companionship  with  you  he  has  mean- 
time learned  to  love  the  gun.  Shoot  your  duck,  and  see  to 
it  that  you  are  on  favorable  rather  than  unfavorable  ground 
for  your  puppy  to  see  it  fall.  Go  with  him  for  the  first  one, 
if  he  gives  you  time  to  do  so.  If  the  fall  be  a  favorable 
one,  the  chances  are  you  will  have  no  occasion  to  go.  From 
this  time  on,  if  you  use  judgment  in  your  shooting,  for  a 


THE   CHESAPEAKE   BAY    DOG.  367 

few  outings,  you  will  have  little  or  no  trouble.  It  will  be 
but  a  short  time  until  you  will  find  you  will  only  have  to 
look  for  the  ducks  coming,  and  your  dog  will  look  after 
those  you  knock  down;  and  when  he  once  goes  at  his  work 
in  this  way,  do  not  interfere  with  him  by  trying  to  make 
him  come  into  the  blind,  or  get  down  in  the  boat  out  of 
sight;  his  coat  and  color  provide  for  this,  and  he  appears 
to  be  aware  of  the  fact. 

I  am  a  strong  believer  in  natural  instincts,  and  insist 
that  to  have  a  dog  do  his  work  satisfactorily,  he  must  do  it 
for  the  love  of  the  sport,  rather,  than  because  he  is  forced 
to  do  it.  I  have  never  yet  seen  a  forced  retriever  that  could 
be  depended  upon  at  all  times.  They  are  liable  to  become 
sulky  at  times,  and  when  they  do,  the  owner  is  liable  to  get 
in  the  same  mood;  then  the  sport  is  over,  for  that  day,  at 
least.  Companionably  handled,  the  chances  are  this  trouble 
will  be  avoided.  I  would  not  be  understood  as  saying  that 
all  that  is  necessary  is  to  buy  one  of  these  puppies,  grow 
him  up  to  six  months,  take  him  to  the  marsh,  and  you  have 
a  thorough  retriever  for  ten  years  to  come.  Far  from  it. 
The  first  six  months — it  may  be  ten  or  twelve  months — of 
his  life  are  to  be  a  continuous  period  of  breaking  and  training 
— not  a  breaking  all  jammed  into  one  week,  or  two,  but 
continuous,  little  by  little;  and  when  the  six  or  twelve 
months  are  past,  you  will  be  surprised  to  see  how  much 
your  puppy  will  do  for  you,  and  how  little  trouble  he  has 
been.  In  my  opinion,  dog-breaking  is  a  thing  in  which  no 
stated  rules  can  be  followed.  The  most  necessary  thing  is, 
first,  fair  material  on  which  to  work,  and  then  lots  of  good, 
hard  common-sense  on  the  part  of  the  trainer. 

A  few  words  on  breeding  may  be  of  interest.  First  of 
all,  if  you  wish  to  be  successful,  do  not  attempt  cross-breed- 
ing. By  this  I  mean  do  not  attempt  to  improve  the  breed 
of  Chesapeakes  by  an  infusion  of  other  blood,  such  as 
Setter,  Spaniel,  etc.  Those  experiments  have  already  been 
made,  and  with  the  worst  possible  results.  For  instance, 
on  the  Irish  Setter;  result,  a  litter  of  all  black  puppies.  On 
the  English  Setter;  result,  a  litter  of  all  colors  but  the 


368  THE   AMERICAN    BOOK    OF   THE   DOG. 

desired  one.  On  the  Irish  and  English  Spaniels;  result, 
dark  liver  and  black  the  predominating  colors,  as  a  rule. 
Large  ears,  and  so  rattle-headed  that  nothing  could  be  done 
with  them.  A  second  cross  on  the  half-breeds;  no  better 
results  than  the  first. 

For  my  breeding  stock,  I  always  select  from  the  litters 
with  a  view  to  producing  the  color  desired.  I  make  it  a 
rule  to  breed  a  bitch  inclined  to  white  to  a  dog  inclined  to 
black,  and  vice  versa.  By  this  I  mean  a  bitch  that  showed 
a  lighter  shade  of  color  at  the  end  of  hairs  than  close  to 
the  skin,  and  a  dog  whose  coat  showed  as  dark  or  darker 
at  ends  than  at  the  skin.  I  do  not  think  it  advisable  to 
mate  an  extra  light-colored  bitch  with  an  extra  light-colored 
dog,  or  an  extra  dark  bitch  with  an  extra  dark  dog.  The 
happy  medium  is  what  I  always  try  to  strike  as  to  breed- 
ing stock.  I  have  never  failed  to  get  good  results  as  to 
color  when  these  rules  were  observed. 

I  have  known  litters  thrown  in  other  kennels  that  con- 
tained two  and  three  cream- white  puppies;  I  have  known 
of  dark  livers  and  blacks.  In  all  these  cases,  it  was  no 
fault  of  the  breeding  of  either  sire  or  dam,  but  simply  the 
result  of  improper  blending  of  colors;  and  color  I  consider 
one  of  the  essential  points  in  the  Chesapeake.  I  have 
known  the  eyes  to  be  decidedly  off  color,  both  too  light  and 
too  dark,  from  the  same  improper  cause.  Breeding  Chesa- 
peakes  is  just  like  breeding  any  other  class  of  dogs,  a  deal 
of  good,  hard  common-sense  must  be  used  to  obtain  the 
best  results.  To  overcome  a  weak  or  objectionable  feature, 
you  must  counter- balance  it  with  the  opposite  feature;  and 
it  may  take  two  or  three,  or  even  more  generations,  to 
eradicate  it. 

These  dogs  are  not  early  developers  as  to  form,  seldom 
coming  into  perfect  form  and  coat  under  eighteen  months 
or  two  years.  On  this  account  I  would  advise  not  breeding 
under  this  age.  Another  advantage  to  be  gained  by  late 
breeding  is,  you  have  time  to  have  your  dog  fairly  well 
broken,  and  then  if  he  or  she  proves  a  successful  sire  or 
dam,  you  are  so  much  the  gainer. 


THE   CHESAPEAKE   BAY   DOG.  369 

The  bitch  should  have  entire  freedom  from  the  time  of 
service  until  the  puppies  are  weaned.  Chesapeake  puppies, 
as  a  rule,  are  hardy  and  easily  raised,  there  seldom  being  a 
frail  one  among  them.  At  the  age  of  three  to  five  weeks 
they  should  be  separated  into  yards,  with  not  more  than 
two  to  the  yard,  as  they  are  savage  fighters  and  are  liable  to 
ruin  one  another.  I  have  known  nearly  the  entire  litter  to 
jump  on  one  of  their  number  and  literally  tear  it  to  pieces. 
I  may  say  here  that  if  ever  you  are  so  fortunate  as  to 
own  a  Chesapeake  Dog,  you  will  not  be  likely,  under  any  cir- 
cumstances, to  be  called  upon  to  take  his  part  in  a  fight,  as 
he  will  be  able  to  do  that  himself,  unless  beset  by  several 
big  dogs  at  once.  He  will  generally  be  found  capable  of 
taking  care  of  himself  in  the  field,  the  marsh,  on  the  road, 
or  in  a  fight;  and  woe  be  to  the  man  that  attempts  to  chas- 
tise you  or  yours  in  his  presence. 

In  the  writing  of  this  article  I  have  tried  to  avoid  any- 
thing that  might  confuse  the  reader,  especially  the  con- 
troversial points  in  regard  to  the  different  types;  and  lest 
some  may  not  clearly  understand  me  on  this  subject,  I  beg 
to  reaffirm  that  there  is  but  one  true  type  of  Chesapeake 
Bay  Duck  Dog,  and  he  has  the  thick,  heavy,  wavy  coat. 

The  future  of  the  Chesapeake  Bay  Dog  is  somewhat 
uncertain,  and  yet  I  can  see  no  reason  why,  with  the  number 
of  good  specimens  now  distributed  all  over  the  North  and 
West,  this  breed  should  not  rapidly  increase  in  numbers 
and  in  popularity;  especially  so  since  the  willing,  rather 
than  the  forced,  retriever  is  becoming  more  and  more  the 
choice  of  sportsmen  every  day. 

STANDAKD   AND   POINTS    OF   JUDGING  THE   CHESAPEAKE 

BAY    DOG.. 

Value.  Value. 

Head,  including  ears,  lips,  and  eyes .  15    Stern 4 

Neck 6    Symmetry  and  quality ' . . »     6 

Shoulders  and  chest 15     Coat  and  texture 16 

Back  quarters  and  stifles 15    Color 8 

Legs,  elbows,  hocks,  and  feet 15 

Total 100 

Head.  —  Broad,  running  to  nose  only  a  trifle  pointed,  but 

24 


370  THE   AMERICAN   BOOK    OF   THE  DOG. 

not  at  all  sharp;  eyes  of  yellow  color;  ears  small,  placed 
well  up  on  the  head;  face  covered  with  very  short  hair. 

Neck. — Should  be  only  moderately  long  and  with  a  firm, 
strong  appearance. 

Shoulders  and  chest. — Shoulders  should  have  full  lib- 
erty, with  plenty  of  show  for  power  and  no  tendency  to 
restriction  of  movement;  chest  strong  and  deep. 

Back  quarters  and  stifles. — Should  show  fully  as  much, 
if  not  more,  power  than  fore  quarters,  and  be  capable  of 
standing  prolonged  strains.  Any  tendency  to  weakness 
must  be  avoided.  Ducking  on  the  broad  waters  of  the 
Chesapeake  Bay  involves,  at  times,  facing  a  heavy  tide  and 
sea;  and  in  cases  of  following  wounded  fowls,  a  dog  is  fre- 
quently subjected  to  a  long  swim. 

Legs,  elbows,  liocks,  and  feet.— Legs  should  be  short, 
showing  both  bone  and  muscle,  and  with  well-webbed  feet 
of  good  size;  fore  legs  rather  straight  and  symmetrical.  It 
is  to  be  understood  that  short  legs  do  not  convey  the  idea 
of  a  dumpy  formation.  Elbows  well  let  down  and  set 
straight,  for  development  of  easy  movement. 

Stern. — Should  be  stout,  somewhat  long — the  straighter 
the  better — and  showing  only  moderate  feather. 

Symmetry  and  quality.  —  The  Chesapeake  Bay  Dog 
should  show  a  bright,  lively,  intelligent  expression,  with 
general  outlines  good  at  all  points;  in  fact,  a  dog  worthy  of 
notice  in  any  company. 

Coat  and  texture. — Short  and  thick,  somewhat  coarse, 
with  tendency  to  wave  over  shoulders,  back,  and  loins, 
where  it  is  longest— nowhere  over  one  and  a  quarter  to  one 
and  a  half  inches  long;  that  on  flanks,  legs,  and  belly 
shorter,  tapering  to  quite  short  near  the  feet.  Under  all  this 
is  a  short  woolly  fur,  which  should  well  cover  the  skin,  and 
can  readily  be  observed  by  pressing  aside  the  outer  coat. 
This  coat  preserves  the  dog  from  the  effects  of  the  wet  and 
cold,  and  enables  him  to  stand  severe  exposure;  a  shake  or 
two  throws  off  all  water,  and  it  is  conducive  to  speed  in 
swimming. 

Color.  --  Nearly    resembling    wet  sedge-grass,    though 


THE   CHESAPEAKE   BAY   DOG.  371 

toward  spring  it  becomes  lighter  by  exposure  to  weather. 
A  small  white  spot  or  frill  on  the  breast  is  admissible.  Color 
is  important,  as  the  dog  in  most  cases  is  apt  to  be  outside 
the  blind,  consequently  too  dark  is  objectionable;  the  deep 
liver  of  the  Spaniel  making  much  greater  contrast,  there- 
fore it  is  to  be  avoided. 

The  weight  of  dogs  should  be  sixty  to  seventy  pounds, 
and  of  bitches,  forty-five  to  fifty-five  pounds.  The  height 
should  be  about  that  of  a  medium-sized  Setter,  but  heavier 
in  body  and  shorter  in  legs. 

The  foregoing  descriptive  list  and  scale  of  points  was 
drafted  by  a  committee  appointed  by  the  American  Ken- 
nel Club,  in  the  winter  of  1884-85,  for  judging  these  dogs. 
While  I  do  not  agree  with  the  committee  in  some  few 
minor  points,  in  general  the  list  and  scale  are  safe  ones  to 
follow. 


THE  SMOOTH-COATED  FOX  TERRIER 


BY  AUGUST  BELMONT,  JR. 


I  HA  YE  been  earnestly  and  repeatedly  requested  by  the 
Editor  of  this  book  to  write  an  article  on  the  Fox  Ter- 
rier. I  declined  at  first  for  want  of  time,  and  because  I 
felt  that  someone  else  might  do  the  work  in  a  more  finished 
manner  than  I;  and  would  gladly  have  persisted  in  this 
course,  but  was  led  to  consider  it  my  duty  to  undertake  the 
task  because  I  represent  so  important  an  interest  in  the 
breed,  and  because  I  desire  to  do  everything  possible  to 
promote  its  growth  in  public  favor. 

This  beautiful  species  of  Terrier  is,  it  must  be  admitted, 
better  and  more  widely  understood  and  appreciated  at  nis 
home,  in  England,  than  here  in  America.  On  this  side  the 
water  his  popularity  has  but  just  begun,  and  his  early  his- 
tory has  been  more  ably  treated  by  English  writers  than  it 
is  possible  for  an  American  to  treat  it.  It  will  therefore 
suffice  for  the  purposes  of  this  article  to  give  a  general 
sketch  of  the  Fox  Terrier's  early  history — which  at  best  is 
somewhat  vague — a  description  of  his  characteristics,  as 
condensed  a  review  as  possible  of  the  principal  strains,  and 
a  brief  survey  of  what  we  possess  here  in  America  on  which 
to  found  a  worthy  branch  of  a  now  magnificent  breed  in 
Great  Britain. 

Terriers  corresponding  to  the  present  Fox  Terrier,  both 
wire-haired  and  smooth,  have  undoubtedly  existed  for  sev- 
eral centuries,  although  they  were,  as  far  as  any  allusion 
to  them  can  be  found  in  the  works  of  early  writers  on 
sporting  matters,  classed  and  spoken  of  under  the  general 
term  of  "  terrier,"  a  corrupted  word  derived  from  their 
Latin  appellation,  terrarius,  indicating  their  propensity  to 
hunt  under-ground. 

(373; 


374  THE  AMERICAN   BOOK    OF   THE   DOG. 

The  characteristics  of  the  Terrier,  whether  of  one  species 
or  another,  were  in  the  main  the  same  as  they  are  to-day, 
viz.:  a  natural  inclination  to  hunt  and  destroy  vermin  of 
any  kind,  pursuing  it  to  its  refuge  wherever  it  be  within 
the  Terrier's  power  to  reach  it;  this  trait  b%eing  accompanied 
by  a  sprightly  and  tense  nervous  nature,  keen  sense  of 
hearing,  quick  vision,  a  most  unerring  nose,  and  an  indom- 
itable gameness.  The  last  quality  must  not  be  misunder- 
stood, as  it  often  is  when  applied  to  this  breed.  Bull-dog 
tenacity  is  not  wanted  in  a  dog  bred  and  used  for  the  pur- 
poses for  which  the  Fox  Terrier  is  most  popular,  and  there- 
fore should  not  be  an  attribute. 

Being  intended,  to  hunt  with  and  for  his  master,  he 
should  be  ready  and  eager  to  attack  the  object  of  the  hunt, 
entering  into  its  hiding-place  and  indicating  the  locality  by 
giving  tongue  or  drawing  out  the  game  in  the  open.  It  is 
not  desirable  that  he  should  close  with  and  kill  the  game, 
as  a  Bull  Terrier  would  do.  Of  course,  the  Fox  Terrier 
will  do  this  eventually,  as  he  should  as  a  last  resort, 
or  if  urged  to  it  by  his  master.  This  style  of  hunting 
and  fighting  requires  great  dash,  courage,  and  dexterity. 
In  trying  to  succeed  in  this  method  of  helping  to  secure 
the  animal  hunted,  he  is  often  compelled  to  receive  more 
punishment  than  if  his  tactics  were  purely  a  light  to 
kill. 

His  nose  is  keener  for  general  game  than  that  of  any 
other  breed  of  Terrier.  He  was  often  used  by  gamekeep- 
ers in  by-gone  days,  and  even  by  some  of  them  in  modern 
times,  to  do  the  work  of  a  Spaniel. 

It  is  clearly  established  that  in  accordance  with  the  spe- 
cial preferences  of  individual  sportsmen,  in  early  times,  for 
hunting  certain  animals,  so  they  unquestionably  selected, 
bred,  and  used,  in  accordance  with  their  size  and  make-up, 
the  Terriers  best  suited  to  each  animal  hunted,  from  the 
fox  and  the  otter  down  to  the  common  rat.  For  the  fox, 
therefore,  a  dog  of  about  the  size  and  general  conformation 
of  the  Fox  Terrier  of  to-day,  weighing  from  sixteen  to 
eighteen  pounds,  was  undoubtedly  employed;  and  old 


THE   SMOOTH-COATED   FOX  TERRIER.  875 

prints  and  paintings  now  and  then  met  with  illustrate  Ter- 
riers of  this  form  in  a  moderately  accurate  way. 

As  fox-hunting  came  in  vogue  in  England,  and  grew  in 
popularity,  we  find  attached  to  the  kennels  Terriers  which 


CHAMPION  LUCIFER   (A.  K.  C.  S.  B.,  5459). 
Owned  by  Mr.  August  Belmorvt,  Jr.,  New  York  City. 

are  the  progenitors  of  the  present  Fox  Terrier.  They  ap- 
pear to  have  been  bred,  however,  for  use  only;  and  aptitude 
for  their  work  must  "have  been  paramount  to  beauty,  as 
most  old  paintings  and  prints  illustrating  the  bolting  of 


376  THE   AMEKICAN   BOOK   OF   THE  DOG. 

foxes  from  their  earth  by  dogs  represent,  as  a  rule,  rather 
dark  and  not  prettily  marked  Terriers,  often  with  prick 
ears. 

Here  and  there  a  clew  is  given  by  some  author  or  artist  to 
white  and  pied  Terriers,  both  smooth  and  rough  coated ;  but 
there  is  no  such  thing  as  an  absolute  and  exact  type  trace- 
able in  the  Fox  Terrier,  as  is  the  case  with  Greyhounds 
and  different  species  of  Hounds  used  in  the  chase  for  cent- 
uries past.  It  will  have  to  satisfy  the  Fox  Terrier  lover 
who  desires  to  establish  the  claim  of  his  pet  breed  to  purity 
of  blood,  to  say  that  the  best  Foxhound  kennels  in  the 
beginning  of  the  century  were  possessed  of  good  Terriers, 
and  are  known  to  have  given  their  breeding  the  most  care- 
ful attention ;  so  that  when  recourse  was  had  to  such 
kennels  as  the  Grove,  Belvoir,  and  Quorn  to  build  the  pres- 
ent breed  of  Fox  Terriers  upon,  Terriers  were  easily  found 
in  and  about  those  kennels  as  true  in  type  as  the  best  of 
to-day,  although  perhaps  not  so  perfect  in  the  special 
points  which  breeding  purely  for  the  bench  shows  has 
since  produced. 

During  the  early  part  of  the  century,  the  indications  are 
that  the  Terrier  which  accompanied  the  earth-stopper  or 
the  pack  was  often  dark  in  color.  I  have  myself  an  old 
print  of  1825,  which  I  found  at  Oxford  ten  years  ago,  rep- 
resenting Sir  Tatton  Sykes'  Hounds  drawing  covert.  In 
the  lower  corner  is  depicted  the  earth-stopper,  spade  in 
hand,  watching  the  workings  of  the  Hounds,  with  an  excel- 
lent pale-colored  Black  and  Tan  Terrier  by  his  side ;  good 
drop  ears,  straight  legs — though  apparently  standing  a 
little  higher  from  the  ground  than  is  desirable  at  the  pres- 
ent time. 

The  history  of  the  Fox  Terrier  resolves  itself  into  three 
periods;  the  first  dating  from  about  the  sixteenth  century 
to  the  end  of  the  eighteenth,  during  which  time  we  have 
evidence  of  his  existence,  along  with  the  rest  of  the  genus 
Terrier  bred  in  the  stable-yard  and  by  gamekeepers,  as 
a  rule  among  plebeian  masters.  Then  the  Fox  Terrier  grad- 
uates, and  we  read  careful  descriptions  of  him  and  records 


THE   SMOOTH-COATED    FOX   TERRIER.  377 

of  his  having  been  bred  with  great  care,  but  for  work,  pri- 
marily, in  connection  with  well  established  and  conducted 
packs  of  Foxhounds  in  England,  ranking  as  a  necessary 
adjunct  of  the  hunt,  down  to  the  middle  of  the  present 
century.  At  this  time  the  country  was  rapidly  becoming 
more  open,  the  pace  growing  very  much  faster,  and  the 
chase  and  preservation  of  the  fox  much  more  artificial.  In 
consequence,  the  little  Fox  Terrier's  vocation  seems  to  be 
on  the  wane  and  his  future  in  doubt. 

At  the  end  of  this  the  second  period  of  his  history,  we 
find  him  suddenly,  about  1863,  attracting  the  attention  of 


FOX  TERRIER   PUPPIES. 

the  general  public  at  the  then  "budding  dog  shows  of  Bir- 
mingham, Leeds,  Manchester,  and  other  midland  and 
northern  cities. 

He  is  immediately  taken  up  by  the  fancier,  and  from 
that  time  begins  the  third  and  great  period  of  his  history, 
with  all  its  modern  adjuncts — noble  lineage,  jealous  and 
active  competition  among  his  patrons,  research  and  study 
of  the  past  for  evidences  of  his  royal  blood,  prominence  in 
the  sporting  prints  of  the  day,  and  later,  journals  and  mag- 
azines especially  devoted  to  his  interests.  An  insatiable 
demand  springs  up  for  him  from  every  quarter,  resulting 
in  most  princely  prices  being  paid,  and,  last  but  not  least, 


378  THE   AMERICAN   BOOK   OF  THE   DOG. 

associations  formed  by  men  of  means  and  prominence  to 
intelligently  perpetuate  and  improve  his  type. 

The  fancier's  first  care  was,  naturally  enough,  directed 
to  the  typical  kennel  Terrier  of  the  day,  keeping  in  view 
symmetry  and  the  accepted  features  of  his  anatomy  which 
his  vocation  and  selection  in  breeding  had  produced. 

In  the  hands  of  breeders,  and  riders  of  good  hunters, 
and  the  huntsmen  and  masters  of  crack  packs  of  Hounds, 
the  Fox  Terrier  was  in  no  small  degree  bred  to  agree  in 
general  conformation  and  type  with  both  Hunter  and 
Hound;  the  same  hard  and  continuous  work,  in  all  sorts  of 
weather,  being  required  of  all  three. 

The  earlier  judges  at  the  shows  followed  this  idea,  and 
the  fanciers,  through  the  Fox  Terrier  Club,  later  adopted 
a  standard  which  confirms  this,  and  which  has  been  incor- 
porated in  the  rules  of  the  American  Fox  Terrier  Club,  and 
is  to-day  the  standard  according  to  which  the  Fox  Terrier  is 
judged  at  all  shows  in  the  United  States  and  Great  Britain. 
Some  twelve  years  ago  a  cloddy,  short-horn  pattern  of  Ter- 
rier found  a  passing  support,  but  was  soon  dropped  with- 
out greatly  damaging  the  breed. 

STANDARD   AND    SCALE   OF    POINTS    OF    THE   AMERICAN    FOX 

TERRIER   CLUB. 

Value.  Value. 

Head  and  ears 15    Stern 5 

Neck 5    Legs  and  feet 20 

Shoulders  and  chest 15    Coat 10 

Back  and  loin 10    Symmetry  and  character 15 

Hind  quarters 5 

Total 100 

DISQUALIFYING  POINTS. 

1. — Nose,  white,  cherry,  or  spotted  to  a  considerable  extent  with  either  of 
these  colors. 

2. — Ears,  prick,  tulip,  or  rose. 

3. — Mouth,  much  undershot  or  much  overshot. 

The  skull  should  be  flat  and  moderately  narrow,  and 
gradually  decreasing  in  width  to  the  eyes.  Not  much 
4  i  stop ' '  should  be  apparent,  but  there  should  be  more  dip 
in  the  profile  between  the  forehead  and  top  jaw  than  is  seen 
in  the  case  of  a  Greyhound. 

The  clieeks  must  not  be  full. 


THE   SMOOTH-COATED   FOX  TERRIER.  379 

The  ears  should  be  V-shaped  and  small,  of  moderate 
thickness,  and  drooping  forward  close  to  the  cheek,  not 
hanging  by  the  side  of  the  head  like  a  Foxhound's. 

The /aw,  upper  and  under,  should  be  strong  and  muscu- 
lar; should  be  of  fair  punishing  strength,  but  not  so  in  any 
way  to  resemble  the  Greyhound  or  modern  English  Terrier. 
There  should  not  be  much  falling  away  below  the  eyes. 
This  part  of  the'head  should,  however,  be  moderately  chis- 
eled out,  so  as  not  to  go  down  in  a  straight  slope  like  a 
wedge. 

The  nose,  toward  which  the  muzzle  must  gradually  taper, 
should  be  black. 

The  eyes  and  the  rims  should  be  dark  in  color,  small,  and 
rather  deep-set,  full  of  fire,  life,  and  intelligence;  as  nearly 
as  possible  circular  in  shape. 

The  teeth  should  be  as  nearly  as  possible  level;  i.  e.y  the 
upper  teeth  on  the  outside  of  the  lower  teeth. 

Neck  should  be  clean  and  muscular,  without  throati- 
ness,  of  fair  length,  and  gradually  widening  to  the  shoul- 
ders. 

Shoulders  should  be  long  and  sloping,  well  laid 
fine  at  the  points,  and  clearly  cut  at  the  withers. 

Chest  deep  and  not  broad. 

Back  should  be  short,  straight,  and  strong,  with  no 
appearance  of  slackness. 

Loin  should  be  powerful  and  very  slightly  arched. 
The  fore  ribs  should  be  moderately  arched,  the  back  ribs 
deep;  and  the  dog  should  be  well  ribbed  up. 

Hind  quarters  should  be  strong  and  muscular,  quite 
free  from  droop  or  crouch;  the  thighs  long  and  powerful; 
hocks  near  the  ground,  the  dog  standing  well  up  on  them 
like  a  Foxhound,  and  not  straight  in  the  stifle. 

Stern  should  be  set  on  rather  high,  and  carried  gaily, 
but  not  over  the  back  or  curled.  It  should  be  of  good 
strength,  anything  approaching  a  "pipe-stopper"  tail 
being  especially  objectionable. 

Legs,  viewed  in  any  direction,  must  be  straight,  show- 
ing little  or  no  appearance  of  ankle  in  front.  They  should 


380  THE   AMERICAN   BOOK    OF   THE   DOG. 

be  strong  in  bone  throughout,  short  and  straight  in  pastern. 
Both  fore  and  hind  legs  should  be  carried  straight  forward 
in  traveling,  the  stifles  not  turning  outward.  The  elbows 
should  hang  perpendicularly  to  the  body,  working  free  of 
the  sides. 

Feet  should  be  round,  compact,  and  not  large;  the 
soles  hard  and  tough;  the  toes  moderately  arched,  and 
turned  neither  in  nor  out. 

Goat  should  be  smooth,  flat,  but  hard,  dense,  and 
abundant.  The  belly  and  under  side  of  the  thighs  should 
not  be  bare. 

Color. — White  should  predominate;  brindle,  red,  or  liver 
markings  are  objectionable.  Otherwise  this  point  is  of  lit- 
tle or  no  importance. 

Symmetry ,  size,  and  character. — The  dog  must  present 
a  generally  gay,  lively,  and  active  appearance;  bone  and 
strength  in  a  small  compass  are  essentials,  but  this  must 
not  be  taken  to  mean  that  a  Fox  Terrier  should  be  cloggy, 
or  in  any  way  coarse — speed  and  endurance  must  be  looked 
to  as  well  as  power,  and  the  symmetry  of  the  Foxhound 
taken  as  a  model.  The  Terrier,  like  the  Hound,  must  on 
no  account  be  leggy,  nor  mustt  he  be  too  short  in  the  leg. 
He  should  stand  like  a  cleverly  made  hunter,  covering  a  lot 
of  ground,  yet  with  a  short  back,  as  before  stated.  He  will 
then  attain  the  highest  degree  of  propelling  power  together 
with  the  greatest  length  of  stride  that  is  compatible  with 
the  length  of  his  body.  Weight  is  not  a  certain  criterion 
of  a  Terrier' s  fitness  for  his  work — general  shape,  size,  and 
contour  are  the  main  points;  and  if  a  dog  can  gallop  and 
stay,  and  follow  his  fox  up  a  drain,  it  matters  little  what 
his  weight  is  to  a  pound  or  so,  though,  roughly  speaking,  it 
may  be  said  that  he  should  not  scale  over  twenty  pounds  in 
show  condition. 

WIEE-HAIEED   FOX   TERRIER. 

This  variety  of  the  breed  should  resemble  the  smooth 
sort  in  every  respect  except  the  coat,  which  should  be 
broken.  The  harder  and  more  wiry  the  texture  of  the 


THE   SMOOTH-COATED   FOX   TEREIER.  381 

coat  is,  the  better.  On  no  account  should  the  dog  look  or 
feel  woolly;  and  there  should  be  no  silky  hair  about  the 
poll  or  elsewhere.  The  coat  should  not  be  too  long,  so  as  to 
give  the  dog  a  shaggy  appearance;  but  at  the  same  time  it 
should  show  a  marked  and  distinct  difference  all  over  from 
the  smooth  species. 

The  premier  honors  in  the  dog  classes  of  the  earliest 
shows  were  divided,  in  the  main,  between  four  great  Terriers 
—Jock,  Trap,  Tartar,  and  Rattler.  The  first  two  became 
celebrated  at  stud,  Jock  succeeding  principally  through 
the  female  line,  while  Trap  was  successful  through  both 
male  and  female.  Both  Trap's  and  Jock's  pedigrees  are 
obscure,  but  their  origin  as  far  as  deciphered  points  strongly 
to  the  Grove  Kennels  strain  of  Terriers;  and  while  white, 
with  but  little  markings,  it  was  always  claimed  that  black- 
and-tan  blood  ran  in  their  veins. 

The  combination  of  these  two  great  dogs  gave  to  the 
fancy  a  host  of  Terriers,  which  made  their  mark  at  stud 
and  on  the  bench,  and  which  figure  to-day  in  most  of 
the  pedigrees  of  the  prize- winning  strains.  Tyrant,  by  Old 
Trap,  out  of  Violet,  by  Old  Jock,  was  the  sire  of  Chance, 
who,  bred  to  a  daughter  of  Old  Jock,  gave  to  the  Terrier 
world  Tricksey,  the  dam  of  Brockenhurst  Joe  and  Cham- 
pion Olive,  son  and  daughter  of  Belgrave  Joe,  a  Belvoir- 
bred  Terrier.  Brockenhurst  Joe,  who  passed  his  last  days 
in  this  country,  more  than  any  other  dog  is  responsible, 
through  his  son  Brockenhurst  Rally,  for  the  celebrated 
strain  of  the  Messrs.  Clark,  of  Nottingham.  It  includes 
among  its  enormous  list  of  winners  Result,  pronounced 
by  competent  judges  the  best  Terrier  of  modern  times. 
Champion  Olive  produced  Pickle  II.,  who,  while  not  a 
show  Terrier,  was  the  sire  of  more  successful  brood  bitches 
than  any  dog  in  the  annals  of  Fox  Terrier  breeding.  Olive 
was  also  the  dam  of  Champion  Spice,  of  whom  more  later. 

Jock's  only  descendants  in  the  male  line  which  command 
our  interest  to-day  was  through  his  grandson  Jester  II. , 
the  sire  of  many  a  good  one.  While  the  strain  has  rather 


382  THE   AMERICAN   BOOK    OF   THE   DOG. 

poor,  woolly  coats  and  indifferent  heads,  it  possesses  great 
character,  gameness,  and  excellent  bone. 

Champion  Bedlamite,  the  dam  of  Bacchanal,  now  the 
property  of  Mr.  John  A.  Logan,  Jr.,  of  Youngstown,  Ohio, 
is  a  daughter  of  Jester  II. 's  son  Joker.  Bacchanal  pos- 
sesses probably  the  truest  Terrier  character  of  any  dog  we 
have  on  this  side  of  the  Atlantic. 

Tartar,  while  successful  in  a  measure  as  a  sire,  can  not 
be  classed  with  the  first  two  as  a  great  progenitor  of  to- 
day's breed.  Perhaps  his  best  strain  is  the  one  which  came 
through  his  son  Trophy,  the  grandsire  of  Corinthian,  a  dog 
who  produced  so  many  good  ones  that  his  blood  became  at 
one  time  a  very  popular  and  successful  one.  They  were 
noted  for  their  rapid  maturity,  but  as  they  advanced  in 
years  tended  to  grow  coarse  and  thick  in  head.  Most  of 
their  bench  honors  were  acquired  during  their  puppyhood 
and  early  maturity.  Mr.  Fred  Hoey's  Champion  Valet, 
however,  who  is  directly  of  this  strain,  and  is  now  quite 
well  along  in  years,  is  a  marked  exception,  retaining  his 
form  wonderfully.  His  incurable  and  unaccountable  im- 
potence has  been  a  very  great  loss  to  American  breeders. 

The  Tartars  are  all  game  as  wildcats.  Old  Trophy,  who 
passed  his  last  days  with  Sir  Bache  Cunard's  Hounds,  in 
Leicestershire,  sported  but  half  a  jaw,  having  lost  the  other 
half  to  a  badger.  Sir  Bache  told  me  that  this  dog  remained 
unconquerably  game  to  his  last  hour. 

I  owned  a  lovely  bitch,  Nellie,  whom  I  brought  home  in 
1876,  by  Old  Tartar,  said  to  have  been  out  of  Hon.  .T.  W. 
Fitz  Williams'  Nettle.  She  bred  me  some  extraordinarily 
game  Terriers  to  Bismarck,  a  son  of  the  Marquis  of  Hunt- 
ley'  s  Bounce,  he  a  son  of  Old  Trap  and  the  grandsire  of  the 
peerless  Buffet.  She  also  bred  me  some  good  ones  to  a  son 
of  Hognaston  Joe  and  Fairy,  the  dam  of  Mixture,  whom  I 
got  from  Mr.  Murchison  in  1878.  I  have  no  more  of  this 
strain;  and  while  not  quite  as  good  for  the  bench  as  my 
present  prize-winners,  they  were  true  Terriers,  and  would 
be  invaluable  to  me  to-day  to  infuse  great  character  and 
gameness  in  my  kennels. 


THE   SMOOTH-COATED    FOX   TERRIER.  383 

From  a  bench-show  point  of  view,  Tyke  was  undoubt- 
edly Tartar's  best  son.  He  never  did  very  much  at  stud, 
and  owing  to  the  line  coats  which  appeared  in  this  line  of 
blood,  there  is  a  strong  suspicion  of  a  cross  of  Bull  Terrier 
somewhere.  Shovel,  a  son  of  Tartar's  good  son  Trumps, 
is  now  in  California,  and  possessing,  as  he  does,  an  infusion 
of  Belvoir  blood,  ought  to  do  good  service  in  improving 
the  breed  on  the  Pacific  Coast. 

Rattler,  the  fourth  of  the  early  great  Terriers  mentioned 
above,  represented  nothing  but  a  brilliant  personal  career. 
He  was  a  failure  at  stud,  his  antecedents  were  cloud'y,  and 
yet  he  for  many  years  was  invincible  on  the  bench. 

A  strain  which  every  breeder  to-day  can  not  fail  to  wish 
to  know  about,  considering  its  phenomenal  success  through 
such  dogs  as  Splinter  and  all  his  famous  sons,  headed  by 
Lucifer,  and  female  descendants,  headed  by  the  great 
Vesuvienne  and  including  Champion  Diana  and  Diadem, 
the  last  two  having  for  some  years  figured  as  American 
matrons,  is  the  Foiler  strain.  Its  origin  is  principally 
from  the  Grove  Terriers,  Foiler  being  by  Old  Grip,  a  son 
of  Grove  Willie,  out  of  Judy,  one  of  Rev.  Jack  Russell's 
strain.  The  characteristics  of  the  strain  are  excellent  heads, 
legs,  and  feet.  In  the  latter  point  these  Terriers,  as  an 
average,  excel  all  others;  they  are  prone,  however,  to 
drooping  quarters,  hind  dew-claws,  and,  if  bred  in  closely, 
large  ears.  The  Foilers  are  the  'most  difficult  of  all  to 
handle  in  breeding,  but  with  care  I  prefer  them  to  all 
others.  They  are  well  represented  in  this  country  by  a 
number  of  stud  dogs.  Lucifer,  Dusky  Trap,  and  Splauger 
are  direct  descendants  in  the  male  line  from  the  old  dog. 

Perhaps  the  most  important  of  all  are  the  Belvoir  Ter- 
riers. About  sixteen  years  ago,  Belgrave  Joe  began  to 
attract  attention  as  a  sire,  and  from  Mr.  Luke  Tanner' s  and 
Mr.  Murchison's  kennels  came  a  host  of  winners.  These 
Terriers  were  essentially  of  the  Belvoir  Kennels  strain. 
Every  pedigree  to-day,  whether  of  one  family  or  another, 
is  thoroughly  saturated  with  this  blood.  Freer  from  Bull 
cross  than  any  other,  it  greatly  changed  the  type  of  the 


384  THE   AMERICAN   BOOK    OF   THE   DOG. 

winning  Terriers  when  widely  introduced;  and  with  its 
extraordinary  ability  to  stand  successful  inbreeding,  it 
may  be  said  to  have  done  more  to  disseminate  a  good 
average  Terrier  than  any  other  strain.  It  brought  sym- 
metry, character,  and  good  coats,  although  more  profuse 
than  before;  and  it  was  not  until  the  advent  of  Champion 
Spice,  with  his  doubtful  lineage  on  his  dam's  side,  that  a 
branch  of  the  Belvoir  strain,  through  him,  went  all  to 
pieces  as  regards  their  jackets.  The  tremendous  opportu- 
nities given  this  very  good  dog  at  stud  resulted  in  a  very 
few  good  ones.  Mixture,  Brockenhurst  Spice,  Earl  Leices- 
ter, and  Hysop  were  about  the  best.  His  blood,  however, 
with  careful  handling,  and  tempered  with  that  of  strains 
of  more  fixity  of  type,  helped  to  produce  Rachel,  First 
Flight,  Syrup,  Raffle,  Chattox,  and  a  host  of  others  in  the 
second,  third,  and  fourth  generations.  Spice  was  brought 
to  America  in  1886,  by  Mr.  Kelly,  of  New  York,  at  the 
largest  price  ever  paid  by  an  American  exhibitor.  His 
career  was  very  short.  After  doing  but  little  service  in  the 
stud,  he  lost  his  life  in  a  fight  with  one  of  Mr.  Kelly's 
Deerhounds  within  the  year,  so  that  what  Spice  blood  we 
have  in  this  country  did  not  come  to  us  directly  from  him. 
Earl  Leicester,  his  kennel  companion,  was  disposed  of  in 
the  same  way  by  Mr.  Kelly's  Grecian  Greyhound  last 
year.  Mixture  is  in  Mr.  John  E.  Thayer's  kennels,  at 
Lancaster,  Mass.,  where  he  has  done  excellent  service  in 
the  stud. 

Just  at  this  moment  a  strain  is  becoming  of  special 
interest;  it  is  the  Buffer,  through  his  grandson  Buff — at  one 
time  much  thought  of,  but  of  recent  years  little  used  and 
often  much  abused.  The  Buffers  were  always  accused  of 
possessing  a  cross  of  Beagle,  which  brought  them  heavy, 
listless  ears  and  a  want  of  true  character.  I  must  say  my 
own  experience  with  blood  akin  to  it  gave  me  some  results 
of  that  very  sort.  Buffer  was  a  son  of  the  Marquis  of 
Huntley's  Bounce,  and  the  dog  I  used  with  my  Tartar 
bitch  Nellie — spoken  of  already  in  this  article — was  also  a 
son  of  his,  called  Bismarck.  Ten  years  ago,  a  friend  of 


THE  SMOOTH -COATED  FOX  TERRIEK.         385 

mine  and  I  also  tried   inbreeding  for  three    generations. 

The  marked  features  above  alluded  to  cropped  out  now  and 

then,  although  I  will  acknowledge  one  dog — a  real  Terrier 

—was  a  game,  big  brute,  and  weighed  thirty- three  pounds. 

Buffer  produced  Buffet,  claimed  by  competent  judges  to 
have  been  the  most  perfectly  built  Fox  Terrier  that  has  to 
their  knowledge  existed.  He  sired  little  of  great  value 
outside  of  his  famous  son  Buff.  This  white  dog,  possessing 
wonderful  legs  and  feet,  great  character  and  symmetry, 
had  a  very  successful  career  on  the  bench,  and  was  exten- 
sively used  at  stud.  His  get  was  only  fair,  with  the  excep- 
tion of  two  beautiful  daughters,  Bloom  and  Blossom. 

Buff  was  cursed  with  periodical  attacks  of  eczema,  and 
this,  with  the  fact  that  careless  use  of  his  blood  and 
attempts  at  inbreeding  brought  out  large  ears  and  bad 
heads,  soon  caused  his  blood  to  be  discarded  for  the  more 
successful  families  that  followed  his  period.  Certainly, 
what  Buff  produced  for  Mr.  Lawrence  to  Jeopardy  and 
some  other  bitches  in  this  country  was  not  good.  I  had  a 
bitch  inbred  to  him,  with  which  I  never  succeeded  in  rear- 
ing a  fit  puppy  to  escape  the  stable-pail.  Messrs.  Ruther- 
furd  had  a  nice  little  son  of  Buff,  called  Nailer,  who  got 
some  very  neat  Terriers,  such  as  they  were  in  America  at 
the  time  he  figured  on  our  benches.  Mr.  Gushing,  of  Bos- 
ton, has,  however,  to-day  a  very  useful  dog  by  Buff,  out  of 
Jeopardy.  If  anyone  desires  the  old  dog's  blood,  I  dare 
say  his  services  might  be  obtained. 

True,  Buff  enters  into  the  Clark  strain,  through  Rollick, 
but  it  only  appears  as  a  small  and  useful  ingredient. 
Where,  however,  we  to-day  see  this  blood  jump  suddenly 
to  the  front,  is  through  Mr.  Yicary's  kennels.  Its  cross 
with  the  Foilers,  through  Splinter,  in  his  hands,  has 
given  us  Yesuvienne  and  Yenio.  The  extent  to  which 
the  latter  is  being  used  at  stud — and  I  hear  with  success 
— and  the  fact  that  I  have  four  young  sons  of  his  out  of 
Rachel  coming  on  who  are  likely,  bar  accidents,  to  dis- 
seminate the  blood  in  this  country,  makes  the  study  of 
this  fortunate  combination  interesting.  The  simplest  way 


386  THE  AMEEICAN   BOOK   OF   THE   DOG. 

is  to  give  an  extended  pedigree  of  the  cross,  and  by  it 
will  be  seen  how,  throngh  Foiler,  on  the  sire,  Yesuvian's 
side  (a  litter  brother  of  Lucifer's),  the  blood  of  Rollick 
predominates.  Buff,  on  the  dam,  Yenilia's  side,  appears 
through  an  inbred  cross. 

To  conclude  the  subject  of  the  different  strains  of  blood 
among  Fox  Terriers,  I  have  selected  the  Clark,  or  Brocken- 
hurst  Rally  strain,  because  it  is  the  most  distinct  in  type, 
because  it  has,  in  a  given  period,  produced  more  high- class 
bench-winners  than  any  other,  and  because  it  furnishes  the 
best  example  of  a  most  carefully  worked  out  instance  of 
successful  inbreeding  known  to  Fox  Terrier  history. 

The  Messrs.  Clark,  two  brothers  living  in  Nottingham, 
founded  the  family  with  practically  three  Terriers — one  dog 
and  two  bitches.  The  dog  was  Brockenhurst  Rally,  an 
excellent  son  of  Brockenhurst  Joe  and  Moss  II.,  a  grand- 
daughter of  Old  White  Tyrant.  The  bitches  were  Jess,  a 
daughter  of  Hazlehurst's  Grip,  he  a  son  of  Turk,  out  of 
Patch,  a  granddaughter  of  Old  Trap,  and  Rollick,  a 
daughter  of  Buff  and  Nectar  II.,  by  Old  Foiler.  Brocken- 
hurst Rally  was  bred  to  both  Jess  and  Rollick.  The  off- 
spring of  these  two  unions  were  bred  together  for  several 
generations,  and  this  crossing  and  recrossing  into  precisely 
the  same  blood  is  what  produced  Result  and  all  the  Ter- 
riers so  closely  related  to  him,  including  Roysterer,  Regent, 
Reckoner,  Rachel,  Radiance,  Reckon,  Rational,  Raffle, 
etc.,  which  for  the  past  six  years  have  held  almost  un- 
disputed sway  on  the  English  benches.  It  was  but  last 
year  that  they  finally  succumbed  to  Mr.  Yicary's  kennels, 
although  Russley  Toff,  the  best  puppy  of  this  year,  and 
purchased  by  Mr.  F.  Redmond  from  his  breeder,  Mr.  F. 
W.  F.  Toomer,  of  Swindon,  for  200  guineas,  is  essentially 
of  the  Brockenhurst  Rally  family. 

Now  and  then  an  outcross  was  made,  such  as  that  to 
Hysop,  the  best-fronted  son  of  Spice,  from  which  came 
Heatherbell  and  Harmony,  respectively  the  dams  of  Rachel 
and  Raffle;  and  to  New  Forest,  the  son  of  Splinter  and  Olive 
II.,  from  which  cross  First  Flight  was  the  fruit.  Reckoner 


THE   SMOOTH-COATED   FOX  TERRIER. 


387 


s| 

(O'Grady's) 
"Willie. 

("Old  Foiler"  by  "Old  Grip." 
(  "Young  Belvoir  Venom"  by  "Belvoir  Joe." 

1 

•  B*s 

"Needle"  

("Belvoir  Jock"  by  "Belvoir  Joe." 
'  1  (O'Grady's)  "Nellie"  by  "White  Sam." 

. 

5 

g= 

"Belgrave  Joe" 

(  "Belvoir  Joe'^  by  (Cooper's)  "Trimmer." 

pj 

w 

H 
Jz; 

:  ~ 

'•Lady  II." 

j  "Pickle  II."  by  "Tyrant  IV." 

(  '  Lady"   by  (Foreman's)  "Tartar." 

a 

Q 

1 

•  'Tweezers"  

j  "Tyrant  IV."  by  "Rambler." 
•  <  "Olive"  by  "Belgrave  Joe." 

>  I    S^     1   "Baby"  

(  "Old  Foiler"  by  "Old  Grip." 
•  '(  "Myrtle"  by  "White  Sam.'r 

- 

1 

gs 

"Pickle  II."  

(  "Tyrant  IV."  by  "R  mbler." 
•  {  "Olive"  by  "Belgrave  Joe." 

SIRE~ 

5 

? 

"Gaudy"  

(  (Slade's)  "Willie"  by  "White  Sam." 
•  1  "Giddy'*  by  "Old  Grip." 

p 

W 

g<i 

"Belvoir  Joe"... 

j  (Cooper's)  "Trimmer." 
•  (His  "Tjinket." 

* 

W 

?gs 

"Old  White  Vic 

']  

ai 

i 

0 
o 

i 

"Honest  Joe"... 

(  (O'Grady's)   "Willie"  by  "Old  Foiler  " 
\  "Needle"  by  "Belvoir  Jack." 

§ 

fi 

Q55 

"Needle"  

j  "Brockenhurst  Joe''  bv  "Belgrave  Joe." 
(  (Branston's)  "Nettle"  'by  "Belvoir  Joe." 

O 

§ 
W 

1 

'  3- 

"Tyrant  IV."  ... 

(  "Rambler"   by  "Artful." 
(  (Branston's)  •'Nettle"  by  "Belvoir  Joe." 

1 

- 

E 

"Olive"  

(  "Belgrave  Joe"   by  "Belvoir  Joe." 
(  "Tricksey"   by  "Chance." 

K* 

fc  1     K.     f 

P 

§       fc         "Old  Foiler"  . 
3       §     1 

(  'Old    Grip"  by  "Grove  Willie." 
(  "Judy,"  Rev'd  Jack  Russell's  strain. 

<J 

3        Q         "Old  Diamond"  . 

(  "Young  Trap"  by  "Old  Trap." 
i'-Tricksey"  by  "Tartar." 

w  " 

1 

"Bullet"  

(  "Buffer"  by  "Bounce." 
}  "Frolic"  by  "Old  Foiler." 

K 

> 

H 
E-i 

? 

"Swan"  

(  "Dazzler"  by  "Grasper." 
("Grace"  by  "Tyke  11." 

i 

H 
* 

Q 

cc 

i 
"Bolus"  

(  "Bitters"  by  "Old  Tyrant." 
i  "Lucy." 

C_ 

:       w 

("Valiant." 

g 

1      - 

"Testy"  

("Tease." 

>" 

g 

'   "o 

"Pickle  11."  

i  "Tyrant  IV."  by  "Rambler." 
(  "Olive"  by  "Belgrave  Joe." 

n 

O 

"Vashti"  

(  "Buffet"  by  "Buffer." 

V'Nell"  by  "Sam"  by  (Mason's)  "Jock." 

b  " 
H 

H 

"Artful  Joe"  

i  "Brockenhurst  Joe"  by  "Belgrave  Joe." 
("Dainty"  by  "Old  Toiler"  ex  "Dainty,"  by  "Buffer." 

3 

1 
H 

"Busy" 

(  "Bitters"  by  "Tyrant." 

(  "Damsel"  by  "Buffer." 

DAM.  £ 

| 

& 

"Buffet"  

(  "Buffer"  by  "Bounce." 
}  "Frolic"  by  "Foiler." 

1 

5 

"Swan"  

(  "Dazzler"  by  "Grasper." 
(  "Grace"  by  "Tyke  II." 

fo 
JP 

g 

"Bolus"  

I  "Bitters"  by  "Tyrant." 
\  "Lucy." 

S         "Testy"  

(  "Valiant." 
I'-Tease." 

•< 

s 

gl. 

"Belgrave  Joe".. 

(  "Belvoir  Joe"  by  (Cooper's)  "Trimmer." 
1  "Old  White  Vic.'' 

^  II 

sis' 

"Tricksey"  

("Chance"  by  "Old  Tyrant." 
\  "Ruby"  by  "Old  Jock" 

\M 

-  w 

HI 

H 

^  Jf 

"Bitters"  

("Tyrant"  by  "Old  Trap." 
(  9     

»' 

p 

"Damsel"'  

(  "Buffer." 
"(  ''Diamond." 

388  THE   AMERICAN    BOOK    OF   THE   DOG. 

also  is  credited  with  one  outcross,  in  his  grandam,  Nell,  a 
bitch  of  Foiler  and  Buff  blood.  In  the  main,  however,  the 
Clark  Terriers  trace  to  Brockenhurst  Rally  and  the  two 
bitches  Jess  and  Rollick. 

It  is  undoubtedly  Brockenhurst  Rally' s  Belvoir  blood,  as 
well  as  the  care  and  intelligence  of  Messrs.  Clark's  hand- 
ling, which  has  permitted  the  inbreeding  of  these  Terriers 
to  be  so  remarkably  successful. 

The  striking  features  of  the  Clark  Terriers  are  a  tend- 
ency to  uniformity  in  markings,  all  black,  or  black  with 
very  little  dark  tan  markings  on  the  head,  predominating; 
white  bodies,  of  course,  or  white  bodies  with  black  patches 
accompanying;  a  high  average  of  well-carried  and  excep- 
tionally small  ears;  a  smooth  outline,  their  muscles  being 
beautifully  distributed  and  showing  no  "bossiness;"  excel- 
lent coats,  legs,  and  feet;  grand  ribs  and  loins;  and  they 
are,  from  my  own  experience,  very  game  and  good  workers. 
Their  peculiarities  naturally  appear  persistently,  and  are 
domed  skulls,  shoulders  not  oblique  enough,  and  con- 
sequently a  tendency  to  stand  out  at  the  elbows,  thereby 
sometimes  in  the  judging  ring  throwing  away  well-deserved 
prizes  before  a  judge  fastidious  on  the  question  of  narrow 
and  straight  fronts. 

Returning  to  Russley  Toff,  a  dog  I  have  not  seen,  but 
which  my  kennel  manager,  Mr.  German  Hopkins,  saw 
when  abroad  last  spriftg,  and  has  carefully  described  to  me, 
I  should  judge  to  be  a  dog  with  all  the  best  features  of 
the  Clark  Terriers,  and  with  neither  of  their  prominent 
faults,  viz.,  domed  skull  or  indifferent  shoulders.  Toff  is  a 
beautifully  fronted  dog;  in  fact,  that  would  have  to  be  the 
case  for  Mr.  Redmond  to  own  him,  he  being  uncompromis- 
ingly wedded  to  that  most  important  of  all  points  in  a  Fox 
Terrier. 

Toff's  outcross  is,  however,  right  back  into  the  blood  the 
Messrs.  Clark  drew  from.  He  is  by  Stipendiary,  a  son  of 
Rachel's  son  Reckon,  out  of  Shindy,  a  granddaughter  on 
both  sides  of  Belgrave  Joe.  His  dam  is  by  Regent,  out  of 
Rutty.  Rutty  is  by  Brockenhnrst  Joe,  Rally' s  sire,  out  of  a 


THE  SMOOTH-COATED   FOX  TERRIER.  389 

granddaughter  of  Champion  Olive,  the  sister  of  Brocken- 
hurst  Joe.  It  will  thus  be  seen  that  there  is  still  reason  to 
expect  this  great  strain  to  hold  its  own  in  the  front  rank, 
although,  as  it  is  the  world  over,  the  latest  champion  is 
always  the  most  popular. 

American  breeders,  while  not  having  as  yet  produced  a 
Result  or  Vesuvienne,  have  really  a  most  excellent  collec- 
tion of  Terriers  to  breed  from,  including  practically  every 
strain  of  consequence. 

The  blood  of  Jock,  Trap,  and  Tartar  first  came  to  us 
through  the  importation  by  Mr.  Newbold  Morris  of  a  very 
fair  Terrier,  called  Gamester,  in  1877.  He  produced  quite 
a  number  of  nice  puppies  at  the  time,  but  his  blood  has 

now  quite  disappeared 
from  our  benches.  Noth- 
ing very  serious  was  done 
in  getting  out  high-class 
Terriers  until  the  Messrs. 
Lawrence,  of  Groton, 
Mass.,  and  Messrs.  Ruth- 
erf  urd,  of  Allemuchy, 
Warren  County,  N.  J., 
began  exhibiting,  about  the  year  1882. 

Mr.  Lawrence  bought  Old  Buff  and  Brockenhurst  Joe,  and 
some  nice  bitches,  including  Jeopardy  and  Deacon  Rosey, 
from  Mr.  J.  C.  Tinne.  For  three  or  four  years  these  Ter- 
riers and  their  offspring  adorned  our  benches,  but,  unfortu- 
nately, Mr.  Lawrence's  kennels  being  far  away  from  the 
principal  breeders  of  the  time,  the  old  dogs  received  com- 
paratively few  outside  bitches.  When  they  died,  four  years 
ago,  Mr.  Lawrence,  to  the  great  regret  of  our  fanciers,  gave 
up  active  breeding. 

Messrs.  Rutherfurd  made  some  very  useful  importa- 
tions, beginning  in  1881,  including  Old  Bowstring,  by  Turk, 
Swansdown,  by  Saracen,  Old  Champion  Royal,  and  a  num- 
ber of  crosses  of  Buff,  among  them  Nailer,  by  Buff,  im- 
ported in  utero,  and  later  Old  Viola,  the  grandam  of  their 
famous  bitch  Diana.  The  blood  of  their  earlier  importa- 


390  THE   AMERICAN   BOOK    OF   THE   DOG. 

tions  has  given  way  to  the  modern  strains,  with  which  they 
have  liberally  sprinkled  their  kennels,  Diana,  Splauger, 
Raffle  and  Cornwall  Duchess  being  the  most  prominent 
of  their  own,  while  they  have  availed  themselves  unstint- 
ingly  of  every  stud  dog  accessible  to  them. 

In  Swansdown,  by  Saracen,  a  strain  came  to  us  which  I 
have  not  mentioned,  and  which  possesses  some  local  interest 
for  us,  viz.,  the  Turk.  This  dog,  at  one  time  quite  popular 
in  England,  a  son  of  Old  Grip,  and  with  probably  a  predom- 
inance of  Grove  blood  in  him,  got  two  sons,  litter  brothers, 
who  were  used  considerably — Moslem  and  Saracen.  The 
strain  was  noted  for  gameness.  Moslem  produced  a  coarse 
branch,  while  Saracen's  get  showed  quality.  A  son  of 
Moslem,  Moslem  II.,  was  brought  to  this  country,  and 
received  much  unmerited  puffing  He  was  a  fair  dog,  of 
rather  common  mould.  Fortunately  for  American  breeders, 
his  moderate  career  on  our  benches  was  short,  and  our 
breeders  escaped  his  undesirable  blood  at  stud.  Swans- 
down,  by  Saracen,  on  the  other  hand,  bred  to  Brockenhurst 
Joe,  produced  Warren  Lady,  the  dam  of  General  Grant,  a 
very  creditable  Terrier  in  his  early  maturity.  She  was  also 
the  dam  of  a  lovely  bitch,  Lady  Warren  Mixture,  by  Mix- 
ture, which  Messrs.  Rutherfurd  lost  through  distemper. 
Barring  a  delicate  constitution,  she  was  quite  the  prettiest 
quality  bitch  bred  on  this  side.  Mr.  James  Mortimer,  of  the 
Westminster  Kennel  Club,  Babylon,  Long  Island,  one  of  our 
best  judges  and  a  very  successful  breeder,  from  Swansdown' s 
blood  got  his  excellent  puppy  Suffolk  Risk,  by  Raffle. 

Shortly  after  the  importation  of  Brockenhurst  Joe  and 
Buff  by  Mr.  Lawrence,  Mr.  John  E.  Thayer,  of  Lancaster, 
Mass.,  brought  out  the  then  famous  Richmond  Olive  and 
Raby  Tyrant,  at  the  highest  prices  at  that  time  paid  by 
American  breeders,  founding  with  these  two  Terriers  his 
celebrated  Hillside  Kennels  of  Fox  Terriers.  They  can 
hardly  be  said  to  represent  a  strain — they  represent,  rather, 
a  combination  of  blood  with  which  Mr.  George  Raper,  a 
very  clever  breeder  in  England,  had  much  success;  but  both 
Olive  and  Raby  Tyrant  seem  to  have  failed  to  reproduce 


THE   SMOOTH-COATED   FOX   TERRIER.  391 

themselves  or  any  very  remarkable  Terriers  on  this  side  of 
the  water.  Mr.  Thayer  later  added  Mixture,  Belgrave, 
Primrose,  Reckoner,  and  Richmond  Dazzle  to  his  kennels, 
arid  a  large  draft  from  Mr.  Fred  Hoey's  kennels.  With 
this  additional  blood,  Mr.  Thayer  is  bringing  out  very  cred- 
itable youngsters. 

Mr.  Fred  Hoey,  whose  kennels  are  at  Hollywood,  Long 
Branch,  N.  J.,  one  of  our  good  judges  and  a  keen  and 
intelligent  breeder,  has  been  very  successful  with  a  smaller 
kennel  than  those  above  named.  From  Lurette,  a  sister 
of  Spice  and  Olive  II.,  the  dam  of  New  Forest,  he  bred 
a  lovely  bitch — Mace  II. — to  Brockenhurst  Joe,  which 
unfortunately  died  of  distemper  after  the  Boston  show  of 
«1886.  Most  of  his  Terriers  have  come  from  Mr.  Vicary's 
kennels,  including  his  famous  Valet,  his  sire,  Venetian,  and 
some  recent  importations  of  the  strains  closely  related  to 
Vesuvienne's  blood. 

Mr.  Edward  Kelly,  of  New  York,  the  founder  of  our 
Fox  Terrier  Club,  and  a  liberal  importer  of  many  good  Ter- 
riers of  the  Belvoir  strains,  has  done  much  for  our  Ameri- 
can Fox  Terrier  family.  Of  recent  years,  he  has  not  been 
as  active,  owing  to  business  cares  absorbing  his  leisure. 
The  debt  American  breeders  owe  him  must  nevertheless  not 
be  forgotten. 

Mr.  Clarence  Rathbone,  of  Albany,  must  be  counted  as 
one  of  the  faithful  of  the  faithful.  His  Beverwyck  Kennels, 
at  Albany,  N.  Y.,  contain  representatives  of  every  known 
strain;  and  in  the  hands  of  so  enthusiastic  and  tireless  a 
breeder  a  vast  amount  of  good  work  is  being  done,  which 
should  surely  one  of  these  days  be  crowned  with  the  breed- 
ing of  some  clinkers. 

With  my  own,  the  Blemton  Kennels,  ends  the  list  of  our 
kennels  of  importance  up  to  within  two  years.  Since  then, 
enthusiastic  breeders  have  started  kennels,  of  which  much 
will  be  heard  in  the  near  future. 

Mr.  R.  S.  Ryan,  of  Baltimore,  has  drawn  both  from  our 
best  home  kennels  and  also  somewhat  from  abroad,  to 
found  his  Linden  Kennels. 


392  THE  AMERICAN    BOOK   OF   THE   DOG. 

Messrs.  Granger  &  VanderpoeP  s  Regent  Kennels,  in  Bal- 
timore, also  give  great  promise.  Active  and  keen,  their 
kennels  are  destined  to  be  a  creditable  support  to  our  lead- 
ing shows. 

A  strong  and  enthusiastic  combination  has  been  formed 
by  two  young  breeders  of  means,  Mr.  Moses  Taylor  and  Mr. 
James  T.  Burden,  Jr.,  of  New  York.     Their  kennels  are 
known  as  the  Wood  Dale  Kennels,  at  Wood  Dale,  near  Troy, 
on  the  Hudson.     They  spare  neither  time  nor  expense,  and 
will  soon  appear  on  our  benches  with  good  strings  to  com- 
pete with  the  old  kennels,  who  must  now  look  to  their 
laurels,  for  all  these  newly  organized  kennels  are  on  the 
right  track  as  far  as  the  blood  they  possess  is  concerned. 

Mr.  John  A.  Logan,  Jr. , 
of  Youngstown,  Ohio,  is 
another  of  our  very  best 
new  breeders.  With  his 
already  wdde  experience 
with  dogs  and  horses,  be- 
ing an  excellent  sportsman, 
and  fond  of  the  best  of 
everything  in  quadrupeds, 
his  Oriole  Kennels  will  certainly  become  familiar  to  every 
Fox  Terrier  lover  in  the  country. 

A  very  important  importation  has  been  made  this  year  by 
Mr.  H.  E,.  Astor  Carey,  of  New  York,  a  new  acquisition 
to  the  fancy.  He  brought  out  First  Flight,  New  Forest' s 
best  son,  a  dog  combining  the  Splinter  and  Spice  cross 
with  the  Clark  strain ;  also  a  full  sister  of  Champion  Rachel, 
and  one  or  two  other  excellent  brood  bitches.  Mr.  Carey's 
kennels  can  not  fail  to  meet  with  success  with  such  blood 
to  begin  with. 

On  the  Pacific  Coast,  the  fancy  is  well  represented  by 
such  breeders  as  Mr.  J.  B.  Martin,  San  Francisco,  Cal. ; 
Mr.  C.  A.  Sumner,  Los  Angeles,  Cal. ;  while  throughout 
the  country  are  scattered  lovers  of  the  breed,  a  list  of  some 
of  which  I  subjoin,  and  all  of  which  are  doing  their  good 
work:  Mr.  W.  T.  McAlees,  Philadelphia,  Penn. ;  Mr.  John 


THE   SMOOTH-COATED    FOX   TERRIER.  393 

Wren,  Springfield,  Ohio;  Mr.  Lloyd  Banks,  New  York 
City;  Mr.  W.  H.  Joeckel,  Jr.,  New  York  City;  Mr.  Louis 
A.  Biddle,  Philadelphia,  Penn. ;  Mr.  Gr.  S.  Kissel,  Morris- 
town,  N.  J. ;  Mr.  Warham  Whitney,  Rochester^  N.  Y.; 
Carl  Heimerle,  Bay  Ridge,  Long  Island,  N.  Y. 

Our  Canadian  cousins  have  for  years  had  an  excellent 
list  of  active  and  intelligent  fanciers,  and  in  their  kennels 
can  be  found  the  blood  of  their  own  valuable  importations 
of  prominent  strains  from  England  and  from  our  best  ken- 
nels in  the  United  States.  Such  well-known  breeders  and 
exhibitors  as  Mr.  Richard  Gibson,  of  Delaware,  Ontario; 
Messrs.  Wheeler  &  Davy,  of  London,  Ontario;  Mr.  D.  S. 
Booth,  of  Brockville,  Ontario,  and  Mr.  J.  K.  McDonald,  of 
Toronto,  need  no  praise  from  me. 

It  has  frequently  been  claimed  that  show  Terriers  are 
wanting  in  courage  as  compared  with  Terriers  of  former 
days.  This  is  a  common  cant  among  sportsmen  not  inter- 
ested in  bench  shows.  It  is  true  that  a  Terrier  not  trained 
for  his  work  will  frequently  disappoint  an  owner,  just  as  a 
Setter  or  Pointer  of  the  very  best  strain  would  disappoint 
a  sportsman  in  the  field  if  its  natural  instincts  had  not  been 
cultivated  by  training. 

In  proof  of  the  claim  that  there  has  been  no  deteriora- 
tion in  Fox  Terriers  if  properly  bred,  I  received  permission  of 
Mr.  Royal  P.  Carroll,  of  New  York — one  of  our  well-known 
sportsmen,  who  has  just  returned  from  the  West — to  relate 
a  little  incident  told  him  by  Mr.  Beck,  son  of  Senator  Beck, 
of  Kentucky,  showing  what  Fox  Terriers  are  capable  of  if 
put  to  the  test.  Mr.  Beck,  who  has  a  ranch  near  Cheyenne, 
Wyoming,  some  years  ago  purchased  some  of.  the  Blemton, 
Kennels  Terriers,  from  which  he  has  since  bred  quite  a 
pack.  Mr.  Beck  was  out  with  his  Terriers  one  day,  and 
ran  across  a  good-sized  cinnamon  bear,  which  the  Terriers 
promptly  attacked.  Of  course  it  was  out  of  the  question 
that  they  should  come  out  better  than  "second  best." 
They  made  a  very  creditable  fight,  however,  and  were 
treated  to  a  violent  repulse,  which  they  succumbed  to  as 
reluctantly  as  the  most  exacting  critic  could  wish. 


THE  BEDLINGTON  TERRIER. 


BY  \Vr.  H.  RUSSELL. 


>HIS  dog  first  emerged  from  prehistoric  obscurity  in 
the  County  of  Northumberland,  in  the  extreme  north 
of  England.  A  distinct  breed  of  Terrier,  native 
and  peculiar  to  this  district,  he  was  known  and  appreciated 
there  long  before  the  era  of  dog  shows;  and  since  he  has 
become  more  widely  known  and  carefully  bred,  he  has,  with 
all  his  improvements,  retained  the  typical  characteristics 
which  we  find  noted  in  the  earliest  descriptions  of  the  best 
specimens,  and  which  mark  him  oif  from  all  other  breeds 
of  Terriers. 

The  earliest  records  and  traditions  we  have  treat  -of  him 
as  the  associate  of  gypsies,  rat-catchers,  traveling  tinkers, 
and  such  people,  to  whom  he  was  a  friend  and  guard,  or  an 
ally  and  companion. in  sport.  However  humble  his  patrons 
at  that  time  may  have  been,  they  were  of  a  class  who,  thor- 
oughly understood  Terrier  sport — hunting  with  these  dogs 
every  animal  in  the  country  that  wore  fur. 

Mr.  W.  E.  Alcock,  the  present  able  secretary  of  the  Bed- 
lington  Terrier  Club,  in  an  article  on  this  breed,  states  that  a 
famous  Northumbrian  piper,  James  Allan  by  name,  who 
was  born  about  1720.  in  a  gypsy  camp  in  Rothbury  Forest, 
near  the  center  of  the  county,  has  left  testimony,  which  has 
been  published  in  his  biography,  to  the  effect  that  his 
father  and  himself  kept  rough  Terriers.  The  father, 
William  Allan,  was  much  famed  for  his  skill  as  an  otter- 
hunter,  and  was  much  in  request  among  the  gentry  as  a 
man  who  could  always  show  them  good  sport. 

The  dogs  that  Allan  use^d  were  called  Rodberry  (Roth- 
bury)  Terriers,  and  were  the  ancestors  of  the  present-day 

(395) 


396  THE  AMERICAN    BOOK   OF  THE   DOG. 

Bedlingtons.  Some  old  fanciers  claim  that  Rothbury  is 
tlie  proper  name  and  that  it  ought  to  have  been  retained. 

Two  of  the  elder  Allan's  favorite  dogs  were  Peachem 
and  Pincher,  names  appearing  among  later  dogs;  and  we 
find  the  name  of  Piper,  derived  from  Piper  Allan,  borne  by 
the  first  Bedlington  Terrier,  so  called. 

Pedigrees  of  known  dogs  of  this  breed  are  traced  back 
to  1792  and  1782,  but  we  have  no  good  description  of 
such  dogs  until  those  written  in  the  early  part  of  this 
century. 

We  must  remember  that  one  hundred  years  ago  Terriers 
were  known  only  as  either  rough  or  smooth;  and,  generally 
speaking,  we  may  say  that  the  rough  sorts  were  found  where 
the  climate  and  work  were  the  most  trying.  They  there- 
fore come  rightly  by  a  reputation  for  being  a  tough,  plucky, 
hard-bitten  race,  their  hard,  weather-resisting  coats  en- 
abling them  to  withstand  the  greatest  amount  of  wear  and 
tear,  whether  on  land  or  in  water. 

Although  we  do  not  know  so  much  as  we  would  like  to 
know  about  these  early  Rodberry  Terriers,  we  do  know  the 
strain  and  its  geographical  situation.  We  know  the  char- 
acter and  physique  of  the  Northumbrian  man.  He  is  stal- 
wart and  robust,  seldom  corpulent;  is  clean,  thrifty  and 
plodding,  honest  and  sincere,  shrewd  and  independent.* 
We  naturally  find  similar  characteristics  in  his  dogs,  and 
we  may  depend  upon  his  appreciation  of  such  animals  from 
the  fact  that  the  first  of  all  dog  shows  was  held  in  the 
Northumbrian  city  of  Newcastle-upon-Tyne.  This  was  in 
1859.  Subsequently,  more  important  shows  were  held  in  the 
larger  centers  of  Great  Britain;  but  anyone  looking  about 
Newcastle  and  its  neighborhood  can  not  fail  to  notice  the 
keen  interest  taken  in  sport  on  every  hand. 

In  1825  one  Thomas  Ainsley,  a  mason,  who  had  bred  a 
remarkably  good  Terrier  called  Young  Piper,  and  from 
whom  many  of  the  best  dogs  are  descended,  first  gave  the 
breed  its  present  name,  after  a  town  some  thirteen  miles 

*  Encyclopedia  Britannica,  ninth  edition,  Northumberland. 


THE   BEDLINGTON   TERRIER.  397 

north  of  Newcastle.  Its  present  population  is  about  14,000, 
mostly  outlying  from  the  original  village,  which  seems  to 
retain  its  old-time  simplicity. 

We  have  brief  descriptions,  given  in  several  articles  on 
this  Terrier,  of  the  parents  of  Young  Piper.  The  sire, 
Anderson's  Piper,  was  a  slender-built  dog,  fifteen  inches 
high,  and  weighing  only  fifteen  pounds;  he  was  liver-col- 
ored, the  hair  being  of  a  hard,  linty  texture;  ears  large, 
hanging  close  to  the  cheek,  and  slightly  feathered  at  the 
tips.  The  dam,  which  was  brought  from  the  town  of  Bed- 
lington,  in  1820,  was  black,  with  brindled  legs,  and  with  a 
tuft  of  light-colored  hair  on  the  top  of  her  head;  she  was 
thirteen  inches  high,  and  weighed  fourteen  pounds.  Thus 
we  can  see  that  seventy  years  ago,  at  least,  some  of  the  im- 
portant characteristics  of  the  modern  Bedlingtons  were  met 
with  in  their  progenitors. 

To  be  a  little  fanciful,  we  may  imagine  that  this  breed 
evolved  itself,  or  was  developed,  in  adaptation  to  its  circum- 
stances. The  coat  is  less  long  and  heavy  than  those  of  the 
rough  Terriers  farther  north,  and  the  build  is  lighter,  with 
more  pace  for,  perhaps,  mountainous  regions,  and  longer 
bursts  of  speed;  in  fact,  we  find  the  miners  of  the  great 
coal-beds  in  this  district  using  these  Terriers  to  run  rabbits, 
and  seeking  pace,  and  therefore  long  legs,  in  their  dogs. 
When  the  Bedlingtons  were  first  brought  before  the  public, 
they  were,  in  the  most  part,  in  the  hands  of  these  same 
miners.  The  demand  for  speed  in  coursing  had  caused  the 
Bedlingtons  to  be  given  up,  in  a  measure,  for  the  Whippet 
and  Greyhound;  but  he  will  always  be  remembered  as 
having  been  the  companion  and  pride .  and  joy  of  the 
"Geordie." 

However,  our  subject  has  other  fanciers  as  well  who  are 
more  able  and  ready  to  show  and  carefully  breed  their  dogs. 
Ten  years  ago,  to  be  sure,  the  Bedlingtons  had  been  seen 
and  heard  of  out  of  their  home  county,  but  were  not  much 
bred  elsewhere.  Now  there  are  kennels  of  them  all  over 
England,  from  Devonshire  far  north  into  Scotland.  The 
Bedlington  Terrier  Club  has  a  good  list  of  members  well 


THE   BEDLINGTON   TERRIER.  399 

distributed  over  Great  Britain,  and  with  two  members  on 
this  continent. 

The  English  Kennel  Club  Stud  Book  records  prizes  given 
to  Bedlingtons  at  Manchester,  in  1869,  and  prize-winners 
are  named  at  the  succeeding  large  shows. 

On  January  1,  1890,  a  dog  show  was  held  at  Newcastle- 
upon-Tyne,  in  the  same  building  as  the  first  of  all  dog 
shows,  in  1859.  The  number  of  Bedlington  entries  was 
eighty -three — the  largest  known. 

What  crosses  helped  to  produce  the  Bedlington  as  we 
now  have  him,  whether  the  Otter  Hound  contributed  his 
pendent  ears  and  peaked  skull,  and  the  Greyhound  his  ele- 
gant shape,  is  not  known.  Exactly  when  and  how  the  pres- 
ent type  became  inherent  in  the  breed  we  can  only  surmise. 
The  underlying  quality  of  the  dog,  which  has  in  nowise 
been  affected  by  any  possible  crossing  in  the  remote  past, 
is  Terrier.  Everything  that  can  be  said  in  favor  of  the 
aboriginal  rough  Terrier,  from  which  he  is  descended,  may 
be  said  of  the  Bedlington.  The  two  names  Ainsley  and 
Pickett  mark  eras,  overlapping  each  other,  in  the  history  of 
our  subject.  There  were  known  previous  to  1825,  and  sub- 
sequently, many  other  fanciers,  only  less  prominent  as 
such. 

Following  are  the  points  of  the  Bedlington  Terrier  as 
defined  and  adopted  by  the  Bedlington  Terrier  Club: 

Skull. — Narrow,  but  deep  and  rounded;  high  at  occiput, 
and  covered  with  a  nice  silky  tuft  or  top-knot. 

Jaw. — Long,  tapering,  sharp,  and  muscular;  as  little 
stop  as  possible  between  the  eyes,  so  as  to  form  nearly  a 
line  from  the  nose-end  along  the  joint  of  the  skull  to  the 
occiput.  The  lips  close-fitting,  and  no  flew. 

Eyes. — Should  be  small  and  well  sunk  in  head.  The 
blues  should  have  a  dark  eye.  The  blue  and  tan  ditto,  with 
amber  shade.  Livers,  sandies,  etc. ,  a  light-brown  eye. 

Nose. — Large,  well-angled.  Blues  and  blue  and  tans 
should  have  black  noses;  livers  and  sandies  have  flesh-col- 
ored. 

Teeth. — Level,  or  pincer- jawed. 


400  THE  AMERICAN   BOOK    OF   THE  DOG. 

Ears. — Moderately  large,  well  forward,  flat  to  the  cheek, 
thinly  covered,  and  tipped  with  fine,  silky  hair.  They 
should  be  filbert- shaped. 

Legs. — Of  moderate  length,  not  wide  apart,  straight  and 
square  set,  and  with  good- sized  feet,  which  are  rather  long. 

Tail. — Thick  at  root,  tapering  to  point,  slightly  feath- 
ered on  lower  side,  nine  inches  to  eleven  inches  long,  and 
scimiter-shaped. 

Neck  and  shoulders. — Neck  long,  deep  at  base,  rising 
well  from  shoulders,  which  should  be  flat. 

Body. — Long  and  well-proportioned,  flat -ribbed,  and 
deep,  not  wide  in  chest;  slightly  arched  back,  well  ribbed 
up,  with  light  quarters. 

Coat. — Hard,  with  close  bottom,  and  not  lying  flat  to 
sides. 

Color.  —  Dark  blue,  blue  and  tan,  liver,  liver  and  tan, 
sandy,  sandy  and  tan. 

Height. — About  fifteen  to  sixteen  inches. 

Weight. — Dogs,  about  twenty-four  pounds;  bitches, 
about  twenty-two  pounds. 

General  appearance. — He  is  a  light  made-up,  lathy  dog, 
but  not  shelly. 

Pickett  preferred  the  silky  top-knot  to  be  darker  than 
the  rest  of  the  coat,  but  later  fanciers  prefer  the  reverse. 
The  muzzle  should  be  rather  narrow,  but  very  deep.  There 
should  be  no  cheekiness,  but  the  strong  jaw  muscles  should 
be  there  all  the  same.  The  ears  should  hang  low,  leaving  a 
clear  outline  of  the  head.  The  position  and  size  of  the 
eyes  minimize  the  chance  of  damage  to  those  organs. 
When  not  trimmed  for  a  show,  there  is  no  deficiency  on  the 
neck  of  the  protected  hair  needed  by  a  real  working  Ter- 
rier. Of  the  various  genuine  Bedlington  colors,  the  blue- 
black  has  been  of  late  years  preferred,  the  liver-colored  dogs 
being  but  rarely  seen  at  the  shows,  and  the  other  colors 
hardly  at  all;  but  there  is  at  present  a  movement  in  Eng- 
land to  bring  in  the  livers  again,  and  they,  in  fact,  were  in 
the  old  days  of  the  fancy  the  favorites. 

Beauty  is  not  usually  claimed  for  Bedlingtons,  but  if  we 


THE   BEDLINGTON   TEKRIEE.  401 

know  how  to  look  for  it,  I  think  we  may  see  it  on  them; 
for  if  there  is  beauty  in  a  Scotch  Deerhound,  why  not  in 
what  is  nearly  like  it,  in  miniature  ?  The  obstacle  to  beauty, 
I  should  say,  is  the  coat.  This  has  been  greatly  improved 
of  late,  and  now  it  ought  not  to  be  either  woolly  or  long. 
Although  hard,  the  hairs  should  not  be  straight,  but  should 
stand  almost  on  end,  each  one  separate  and  distinct,  with  a 
twist  of  its  own,  as  if  inclined  to  curl.  Scattered  over  the 
body  are  hairs  harder  than  the  rest  of  the  coat,  which,  as  a 
whole,  should  be  crisp  to  the  touch  and  neither  hard  nor 
silky.  The  coat  should  be  about  one  and  one-fourth  inches 
long,  although  it  is  frequently  seen  as  long  as  two  inches, 
which,  however,  is  too  long,  as  it  the  more  readily  carries 
dirt,  and  also  conceals  the  animal's  elegant  contour.  To 
avoid  the  latter,  the  old  and  long  hairs  are  often  removed 
for  show  purposes  by  hard  combing,  and  even  plucking. 
How  far  this  is  justified  will  be  discussed  below. 

This  coat,  from  one  and  one-fourth  to  one  and  three- 
fourths  inches  long,  c '  hard,  with  close  bottom,  and  not  lying 
flat  to  sides,"  is  certainly  an  outdoor  rural  workman's 
jacket.  Flat  coats,  over  two  inches  long,  on  other  breeds 
may  be  made  ornamental;  but  the  ideal  coat  of  the  Bedling- 
ton  is,  to  my  mind,  faultless,  all  things  considered.  Hard, 
it  resists  wet,  and  yet  is  so  short  that,  coming  from  the 
water,  shaking  himself,  and  rolling  on  the  bank,  the  dog  is 
quickly  dry. 

My  own  dogs,  with  the  run  of  a  farm  and  neighboring 
stream,  never  need  washing,  and  never  have  to  be  forbidden 
any  part  of  the  house  because  of  the  coat  carrying  dirt. 
The  feet  of  any  dog  on  a  muddy  day  will  mark  a  white  bed- 
spread, and  the  tidy  American  housewife,  if  there  are  any 
dogs  about,  usually  shuts  the  door  to  the  best  parlor. 

Good  specimens  of  this  breed  (I  speak  from  personal 
experience)  resemble  one  another  even  more  mentally  than 
they  do  physically.  There  is  always  the  same  alert  interest 
in  outdoor  matters,  with  the  ever-present  penchant  for 
hunting  and  excavating.  These  energies  can,  of  course,  be 
misdirected,  2and  one's  chickens  or  cats  may  become  the 


402  THE   AMERICAN   BOOK   OF  THE  DOG. 

unwilling  objects  of  the  dog's  pursuit;  and,  if  not  watchful, 
one  may  even  find  the  house-walls  undermined.  Young 
dogs  may,  however,  be  easily  taught  to  conduct  themselves 
so  as  to  meet  with  general  approbation,  even  respecting 
their  owner's  flower-beds. 

These  dogs  are  happiest  when  taken  for  an  outing  with 
their  master,  searching  about  at  a  gallop  for  anything  that 
runs  wild.  I  have  seen  a  Bedlington  stop  a  large  snake 
and  prevent  its  escape  until,  having  had  his  attention 
attracted,  the  owner  came  up  and  relieved  the  dog  of  further 
responsibility. 

They  readily  learn  to  take  to  water  with  delight,  and 
do  not  heed  cold  or  heat  or  length  of  road.  In  repose  and 
in-doors  they  usually  seem  dull,  not  being  carpet  knights 
naturally;  and  their  coats  may  seem  awry,  not  being  shaken 
out  as  when  at  liberty.  Seen  in  the  snow,  of  which  they 
are  very  fond,  the  coat  often  looks  like  a  beautiful  suit  of 
velvet. 

They  have,  in  good  specimens,  something  of  the  appear- 
ance of  a  thorough-bred  race-horse,  and  when  animated 
show  a  fiery  energy  that  illumines  them.  It  is  this  over- 
flowing vitality  and  sporting  instinct  in  the  field  that  has 
such  a  charm  for  a  man  who  loves  what  is  all  about  him  in 
nature  as  she  is  found  in  field,  wood,  and  stream,  and  who 
appreciates  a  sympathetic  canine  friend.  If  the  Bedlington 
is  ugly,  at  least  he  is  not  so  ugly  that  after  his  coat  has 
been  cared  for  it  is  considered,  by  his  admirers,  necessary 
for  him  to  be  mutilated  before  putting  on  the  show  bench. 
The  following  well- written  article,  taken  from  the  English 
St.  James  Gazette,  is  interesting  as  being  by  an  apparently 
unbiased  witness,  and  as  showing  that  some  of  the  best 
blood  has  come  to  this  country.  The  father  alluded  to  is 
Sentinel,  one  of  the  best-headed  dogs  of  his  kind.  He  is 
described  by  that  unerring  judge  of  the  breed,  Mr.  Charles 
H.  Mason,  in  his  "Our  Prize  Dogs,"  volume  1.  Sentinel's 
pluck  is  testified  to  in  the  quotation  : 

Two  tall  and  burly  men  were  shown  into  my  study  some  time  ago.  Their 
names  brought  to  me  memories  of  wild  moorland,  of  rough  sport  over  bleak 


THE   BEDLTNGTON   TERRIER.  403 

salt-marshes;  but  I  could  not  guess  their  errand.    The  taller  of  the  pair  placed 
a  basket  on  my  table,  and  said  with  gravity: 

"  We  wanted  a  trip  to  London,  so  we  thought  we'd  fetch  him  with  us.  We 
never  trust  one  of  the  breed  to  no  railway  man." 

I  then  knew  that  one  of  a  precious  strain  of  Terriers  was  to  be  mine,  and  I 
received  the  information  with  sober  joy.  Then  spoke  the  broader  of  my 
visitors: 

"His  father's  gone  to  America.  We  thought  you  would  like  a  puppy  of  the 
old  dog's  (he  was  as  game  as  they  make  them),  and  we  brought  you  the  best 
for  a  little  present." 

Here  the  tall  man  unrolled  a  sheet  that  seemed  to  be  dotted  with  characters 
that  took  the  shape  of  a  big  triangular  blotch. 

"  There's  the  pedigree,  and  nothing  better  in  England." 

The  pedigree  was  indeed  imposing.  I  found  myself  the  proud  possessor  of 
a  "Blue  Bedlington.  Date  of  birth,  July  18th;  marks,  none."  In  the  blood  of 
this  aristocrat  mingled  strains  of  Old  Topsey,  Heron's  Bess,  Piper,  Tip,  Shields' 
Meg,  and  the  records  of  these  and  other  breedings  wound  from  the  base  of  the 
triangle  to  the  apex,  where  was  written  the  name  of  that  heir  of  the  ages  who 
was  in  the  basket.  As  the  big  man  reverently  laid  his  hands  on  the  lid,  he 
looked  like  a  bishop  about  to  perform  a  confirmation  ceremony.  And  then 
the  prize  came  to  view.  I  am  bound  to  say  that  a  more  sorry  object  never  went 
on  four  legs.  He  staggered  absurdly,  and  hung  his  head  as  if  he  were  under  a 
sense  of  crime.  His  coat,  so  far  from  showing  a  shade  of  azure,  was  a  mere 
rugged  pelt  of  dark  slate-color,  and  a  comic  mustache  of  stiff  bristles  gave 
him  somewhat  of  the  appearance  of  a  barbel.  The  two  giants  gazed  on  the 
creature,  and  their  look  was  one  of  pure  rapture.  Over  two  hundred  miles  the 
brute  had  been  conveyed,  and  I  knew  that  no  higher  honor  could  be  offered 
me  by  my  good  friends;  so  I  resolved  to  bestow  the  utmost  care  on  the  scion  of 
Topsey.  He  looked  up  at  me  for  a  moment,  and  then  came  to  fawn  on  me 
in  a  reserved  sort  of  way;  then  I  saw  the  gleam  of  his  deep  set,  fiery  eye,  and 
somehow  the  impression  given  by  the  whole  carcass  changed.  The  ladies  of 
the  house  came  to  see  my  new  friend,  and  their  marked  restraint  increased  my 
misgivings.  The  poor  blue  dog  crept  after  them,  one  after  the  other,  and 
seemed  to  crave  forgiveness  for  his  own  ill-favored  guise ;  but  the  feminine 
mind  did  not  relent,  and  polite  words  of  commendation  were  uttered,  I  fear, 
as  a  matter  of  form. 

Then  a  rollicking  Bull  Terrier  puppy  entered  and  proceeded  to  play.  He 
rolled  the  blue  over,  and  enjoyed  the  fun  very  much  until  he  took  the  liberty 
of  bestowing  a  nip.  In  an  instant  the  ragged  youngster  was  transformed. 
Without  making  a  sound,  he  fixed  his  grip  and  held  on.  The  white  puppy 
showed  all  the  gallantry  of  his  race,  but  he  was  soon  in  sore  straits,  and  the  tall 
man  said: 

"Just  like  the  old  dog.  They're  all  the  same.  Better  part  them."  The 
warriors  were  lifted  up  and  separated. 

My  vanity  was  sorely  tried  during  my  first  public  appearance  with  the 
blue  puppy.  But  the  ugliness  wore  off  week  by  week.  His  limbs  grew  wiry 
and  strong.  His  tail  became  so  muscular  that  a  tap  from  it  was  like  the  blow 


404 


THE   AMERICAN   BOOK   OF  THE   DOG. 


of  a  riding-whip,  and  his  head  acquired  a  strange  attractiveness.  His  early 
youth  went  pleasantly  by,  and,  as  his  character  developed,  I  found  he  was 
quiet  and  teachable,  like  all  of  his  breed.  His  gravity  deepened  as  his  beaut}* 
became  apparent,  and  even  in  his  gallop  over  the  fields  he  pounded  along  as  if 
he  were  merely  running  for  the  good  of  his  constitution  and  not  out  of  light  - 
heartedness.  It  is  odd  to  see  the  dog's  pride  in  his  feats  with  vermin;  and  I 
fear  that  when  we  go  into  the  country,  with  its  swarms  of  rats,  his  vanity  will 
become  excessive. 

There  is  a  consensus  among  writers  on  the  Bedlington 
that  he  is  of  the  highest  courage,  and  instances  are  adduced 
to  show  his  desperate  gameness.  It  was  said  when  he  first 


BEDLINGTON    TERRIER-SYRUP  H. 
Owned  by  W.  H.   Russell,  55  East  Sixty-eighth  street,  New  York  City. 

became  generally  known  that  he  was  quarrelsome.  This 
has  been  repeatedly  contradicted  in  print  by  good  authori- 
ties. The  idea  may  have  arisen  from  the  fact  that  he  was 
kept  by  a  certain  class  of  men  as  a  fighting  dog,  and 
because  of  his  undoubted  pluck.  However,  when  not 
trained  by  this  species  of  cannibalism,  he  has  been  found 
peaceable  when  abroad.  He  has  spirit  and  energy,  which 
are  most  desirable,  but  they  must  be  properly  educated  and 
directed.  A  brave  man  may  be  either  a  hero  or  a  desper- 
ado. Being  a  dog  capable  of  the  strongest  attachment  to 


THE   BEDLINGTON   TERRIER.  405 

his  master,  lie  is  likely  to  be  blindly  jealous,  and  will  "bear 
no  rival  near  the  throne."  At  home  he  will  usually  not 
tolerate  the  intrusion  of  strange  dogs. .  This  can  hardly  be 
called  a  peculiarity  of  the  Bedlington,  dogs  not  being 
inclined,  as  a  rule,  to  show  hospitality  to  visitors  of  their 
own  species. 

Sometimes  in  America  the  proud  possessor  of  a  well-bred 
Bedlington  may  be  asked  by  some  earnest  inquirer,  or  per- 
haps curious  and  utilitarian  scoffer,  "What  is  he  good 
for?"  To  a  true  dog-lover  his  four-footed  friend  is  some- 
thing like  a  child  in  his  affections,  whether  his  usefulness 
is  great  or  not;  but  the  Bedlington  can  be  a  necessary  part 
of  an  establishment. 

In  the  first  place,  he  is  eminently  a  man's  dog;  and 
although  when  kept  in  the  house  from  youth  as  a  pet  he 
loses  his  fire  and  restlessness,  if  he  has  had  a  chance  to 
learn  the  taste  of  sport,  he  will  always  be  begging  his  mas- 
ter for  a  run.  He  is  able  to  discharge  the  duties  of  a  larger 
dog  about  a  country  place,  except  in  such  instances  as 
require  bulk.  If  his  size  will  not  permit  him  to  seize  and 
hold  an  intruder,  he  can  at  least  give  the  alarm,  which 
enables  his  master  to  look  into  the  matter  for  himself,  and 
either  supplement  or  restrain  his  guard,  as  he  may  see  fit. 
He  has  pace  enough  to  keep  up  with  the  ordinary  speed  of  a 
horse,  and  is  small  enough  to  be  taken  into  a  vehicle,  and 
even  given  a  place  on  the  seat  if  desired. 

No  rodent,  Mephitis  Americana,  mink,  raccoon,  or  fox 
finds  the  neighborhood  of  his  home  a  pleasant  visiting- 
place.  He  searches  diligently  above  and  below  ground 
for  these  pests,  and  when  he  finds  them  shows  no  quar- 
ter. This  usefulness  in  the  writer's  experience,  living  on  a 
forest  farm,  by  an  Adirondack  trout-stream.  This  Terrier 
will  also  act  as  an  ordinary  farm-dog,  helping  with  the  cat- 
tle. I  do  not  hear  of  Terriers  being  used  in  shooting  in 
this  country,  but  Bedlingtons  are  seen  advertised  in  English 
papers  as  "  broken  to  the  gun." 

Anyone  breeding  these  dogs  should  of  course  be  careful 
to  have  the  parents  of  pure  blood.  Such  are  not  difficult 


406  THE   AMERICAN   BOOK    OF   THE   DOG. 

to  procure  now  in  America,  and  fair  specimens  may  be 
obtained  at  modest  prices.  Selection  in  mating  should  be 
on  the  general  principle  of  a  sum  of  excellences  in  the  two 
parents — a  defect  in  one  counterbalanced  by  a  correspond- 
ing excellence  in  the  other;  that  is,  two  animals,  both  of 
which  are  bad  in  head,  or  body,  or  legs,  or  coat,  should  not 
be  bred  together.  The  tendency  in  such  a  case  is  to  an 
exaggeration  of  the  fault,  whereby  symmetry  is  destroyed 
and  failure  becomes  sure.  The  more  good  qualities  each 
parent  possesses  the  better,  and  the  descent  being  from 
equally  good  ancestors,  the  greater  the  chance  of  successful 
results.  This  principle  being  so  well  known,  it  will  be  nec- 
essary to  speak  of  but  one  point  more  which  is  especially  to 
be  noticed  about  this  breed.  The  coat  should  be  bred  hard. 
It  may  be  fine,  but  not  soft  or  silky,  except  the  top-knot 
and  ear-fringes.  Neither  should  it  be  coarse  or  stiff,  which 
indicates  other  than  pure  Bedlington  breeding.  When 
there  is  too  great  a  tendency  to  softness  of  coat,  a  "liver  " 
cross  is  recommended,  and  this  is  one  reason  why  that  col- 
ored dog  should  not  be  neglected. 

The  first  Bedlington  I  ever  owned  was  bought  by  me  in 
London,  of  a  man  who  kept  this  breed  for  hunting  rabbits, 
and  who  cared  only  for  working  qualities,  making  no  note 
of  colors  or  pedigrees.  One  day  he  appeared  at  my  lodg- 
ings on  his  bicycle,  followed  by  three  of  these  Terriers,  one 
of  which  he  had  caused  to  be  sent  from  Yorkshire  for  me. 
The  dog  had  been  taken  care  of  by  a  gamekeeper,  and  when 
I  took  him  to  Regent's  Park  he  ran  to  right  and  to  left 
ahead  of  me,  and  frequently  looking  back,  would  be  guided 
by  the  direction  in  which  I  waved  my  hand.  When  so 
commanded  he  came  in  to  heel,  which  showed  me  that  he 
could  have  been  useful  with  a  gun.  He  afterward,  in  New 
York,  learned  to  retrieve;  knd  if  a  lady  dropped  her  hand- 
kerchief, would,  at  a  sign  from  me,  pick  it  up  and  offer  it  to 
her.  Once  I  remember  a  little  girl  was  so  surprised  by  this 
apparent  attention  on  his  part  that  she  said  "Thank  you, 
sir,"  which  made  the  dog  appear  very  human. 

However,  dogs  that  are  sharp  at  vermin  generally  do  not 


THE   BEDLINGTON   TERRIER.  407 

retrieve  well,  and  need  careful  treatment  to  be  taught.  They 
will  pick  up  an  article,  but  nip  and  drop  it,  and  look  for 
something  else.  All  Terriers  should  be  trained  to  run 
ahead  and  hunt  and  to  come  in  to  heel  when  required.  If 
they  do  not  know  at  least  this  much,  they  are  likely  to  be  a 
nuisance.  By  not  punishing  a  dog  when  he  comes  to  you, 
he  will  learn  at  a  cross  word  to  come  in  to  heel,  where  he 
can  be  well  controlled  and  directed.  When  it  is  necessary 
to  correct  a  small  dog,  run  at  him  suddenly  and  fiercely; 
he  will  usually  lie  down;  then  stand  over  him  and  scold, 
but  not  loudly,  perhaps  pretending  to  beat  him  with  a 
switch.  He  will  then,  if  he  understands,  be  glad  to  do  as 
you  wish  him  to  do. 

Never  give  a  command  you  can  not  enforce.  Firmness 
and  consistency  will  train  a  dog  better  than  to  impress  him 
by  cruelty,  besides  developing  his  intelligence  and  affec- 
tion. This  is  merely  the  common-sense  of  dog-training 
which  has  been  ably  set  forth  by  well-known  writers. 

These  dogs  are  most  hardy.  They  may  be  kept  where 
any  live-stock  is  kept,  provided  they  have  a  dry  bed,  as  in 
a  barn  in  winter  or  out  of  doors  in  summer;  in  fact,  they 
are  better  if  not  coddled.  They  should  not  be  fed  much 
meat  unless  they  have  a  great  deal  of  exercise.  They  are 
usually  spare  eaters,  and  ought  never  to  look  fat.  If  a  dog 
is  active  and  his  nose  is  moist  and  cold,  he  is  doing  well. 
They  will  be  better  if  allowed  great  freedom;  much  chain- 
ing is  of  course  bad.  Males,  if  kept  shut  up  together,  are 
prone  to  quarrel. 

As  a  rule,  Bedlingtons  will  have  few  diseases  if  given 
plenty  of  air  and  exercise,  with  a  sufficiency  of  good  food 
and  clean  water.  It  is  only  when  kept  confined  in  num- 
bers that  they  "fall  into  the  hands  of  the  physicians." 
They  may  then  be  treated  according  to  the  rules  for  dogs  of 
their  size. 

To  show  a  Bedlington  to  advantage  some  care  is  neces- 
sary, for  he  does  not  display  in  the  ring  such  animation 
as  he  does  out  of  doors  at  liberty.  Therefore  he  should  be 
accustomed  to  the  chain  and  to  pleasant  associations  with 


408  THE  AMERICAN   BOOK   OF  THE   DOG. 

it.  If  made  a  preliminary  to  an  outing  in  the  fields,  he-will 
learn  not  to  consider  it  an  unpleasant  bondage,  and  will  not 
droop  as  if  the  chain  were  used  merely  for  purposes  of 
confinement  and  punishment.  After  the  first  requisites, 
health  and  well -developed  and  hard  muscles,  comes  the 
coat.  The  attention  which  it  is  customary  to  give  to  this 
before  showing  is  one  detriment  to  the  dog's  popularity. 


.  .^^:-.^,^,.^..^.,^^^.: „ 

BEDLINGTON    TERRIER   PUPPIES. 

By  Tick  Tack,  out  of  Polly  Markworth      Bred  and  owned  by  W.  H.   Russell,  -55  East 
Sixty-eighth  street,   New  York  City. 

There  are  times  when  the  natural  coat  is  such  that  the  dog 
needs  no  trimming  to  look  his  best.  At  other  times,  as  the 
old  hairs  do  not  drop  simultaneously,  and  as  some  remain 
irregularly  here  and  there  over  the  dog,  light  in  color  and 
long,  they  should  be  removed  to  give  him  a  neat  look. 

This  may  be  done  without  objection  with  a  fine-tooth 
comb,  but  many  people  think  it  fair  to  remove  some  hair 
by  plucking.  If  any  mark  of  such  treatment  is  shown  on 


THE  BEDLINGTON   TERRIER.  409 

the  skin,  disqualification  is  liable  to  follow.  Honorable 
handlers  will  not,  of  course,  cut  or  alter  the  color  or  texture 
of  so  much  as  a  single  hair.  Whatever  there  is  on  the  dog 
must  be  perfectly  natural.  Some  fanciers,  on  the  other 
hand,  consider  the  least  plucking  dishonest,  and  hold  that, 
if  extensively  resorted  to,  it  enables  a  dog  with  an  excess- 
ively long  coat  to  compete  advantageously  with  a  naturally 
good  and  short-coated  dog.  This  is  no  doubt  true,  and  pre- 
sents the  problem  commented  on  as  follows  in  the  English 
Stock-Keeper,  October  18,  1889 : 

The  disqualifications  and  severe  penalties  for  trimming  that  have  fallen 
upon  certain  kennels,  again  set  us  thinking  of  the  necessity  that  exists  for  lay- 
iug  down  clearly  the  limits  of  legitimate  hair-dressing  in  rough-coated  Terriers. 
It  is  fair  to  remove  old  hairs,  and  nothing  more,  is  the  reply  received  when  old 
exhibitors  are  asked  for  an  opinion;  but  between  you  and  me,  and  let  us  sub- 
stitute our  conscience  for  the  lamp-post,  who  is  to  decide  upon  the  age  of  the 
hairs  that  abound  in  places  which  are,  in  the  opinion  of  the  judge,  not  eligible 
sites  for  ground  game.  Of  course,  gentle  reader,  the  tiny  voice  of  conscience 
will  be  heard  in  your  sensitive  ears,  ringing  like  a  town-crier's  bell;  and  when 
it  softly  tinkles  in  the  presence  of  the  deaf,  and  somewhat  deft  as  well,  who 
will  discern  the  moral  slip  of  the  finger  and  thumb? 

We  are  open  to  conviction  in  any  direction,  but  our  opinion  just  now  is 
that  the  present  vague  condemnation  of  the  art  puts  a  premium  on  skilled  bar- 
barity. Masters  of  the  art  will  practice  undetected,  and  parade  the  ring  with 
pride,  while  the  wretched,  but  no  more  guilty,  initiate,  with  the  clumsy  marks 
on  his  breast,  will  walk  round  in  the  fear  of  the  judge. 

In  the  present  stage  of  the  matter,  we  are  inclined  to  describe  the  Kennel 
Club  committee's  penalties  as  being  rather  harsh;  but  we  should  be  misunder- 
stood if  this  opinion  were  construed  into  an  expression  of  sympathy  with  the 
professional  trimmers.  Our  sympathy  is  with  the  honorable  and  eminent  mem- 
bers of  the  kennel  world  who  have  boldly  entered  the  lists  to  unseat  the  knaves 
of  the  tonsure;  while  our  inexpressible  contempt  is  reserved  for  the  champions 
of  trimming,  and  for  those  who  sneered  at  the  motives  of  the  opponents  of  trim- 
ming. 

And  also,  January  3,  1890: 

One  of  the  most  trying  questions  during  the  year  that  has  just  begun 
will  be  the  great  trimming  puzzle;  for  it  is  a  puzzle  to  know  how  much  the 
Kennel  Club  or  the  judges  will  stand.  The  Kennel  Club  ought  to  solve  the 
puzzle,  of  course — there  is  no  doubt  about  that;  but  the  committee  fold  their 
hands  a-  d  shrug  their  shoulders,  and  say:  Non  possumm;  we  have  tried.  We 
did  issue  a  circular  asking  exhibitors  for  information.  The  novices  and  the 
numskulls  replied  most  copiously,  and  by  return  of  post;  but  the  rest,  who, 
from  having  been  more  than  five  minutes  in  the  fancy,  knew  something, 
proved  very  bad  correspondents.  The  committee  think  they  have  done  their 


410  THE   AMERICAN   BOOK    OF  THE  DOG. 

best.  They  are  unable  to  define  trimming  in  Terriers  sufficiently  just  and  com- 
prehensive for  the  purposes  of  disqualification;  so  they  say  we  will  ask  men  to 
judge  these  hairy  breeds  who  are  acquainted  with  the  peculiar  customs  of  the 
fancy,  and  then  we  will  ask  them  to  tip  us  the  wink  if  they  see  how  it  has  been 
done.  This  is  a  very  comfortable  temporary  arrangement.  Some  of  the 
judges  have  taken  to  it  most  seriously,  and  we  expect  to  give  our  readers 
accounts  of  several  causes  celebres  of  this  description  in  1890. 

The  honesty  of  motive  here  shown  is  beyond  cavil;  still, 
as  certain  modifications  of  the  natural  animal  are  allowed 
in  the  case  of  some  other  breeds  of  dogs,  there  may  be 
another  point  of  view  that  is  not  dishonest,  either.  To  win 
with  Bedlingtons  under  the  general  run  of  judges,  the  coat 
must  be  made  to  look  neat  and  not  disguise  the  dog' s  good 
points  of  shape.  If  any  trace  of  his  ' '  improvement ' '  is 
found,  scrutineers,  disregarding  the  customs  of  fanciers 
and  judges  of  this  breed,  think  they  have  grounds  for  dis- 
gracing both  animal  and  owner,  which  does  not  encourage 
the  taking  up  of  this  otherwise  unexceptionable  dog.  If 
the  judges  would  favor  what  have  been  called  "honest- 
coated"  dogs,  and  not  be  much  influenced  by  the  neatness 
that  comes  from  excessively  careful  and  skillful  manipula- 
tion, it  would  tend  to  stimulate  the  breeding  and  showing 
of  dogs  with  better  natural  coats. 

The  latest  dictum  on  this  subject,  by  the  English  Bed- 
lington  Terrier  Club,  is  to  this  effect: 

At  a  meeting  of  the  above  club  held  in  Newcastle,  on  January  7,  1880,  it 
was  voted,  unanimously,  "that  trimming  Bedlingt^n  Terriers,  that  is,  remov- 
ing superfluous  hair,  be  allowable  and  acknowledged,  as  it  is  not  done  to 
deceive,  but  to  smarten  the  dog  and  show  his  shape  and  general  contour;  and 
that  the  honorable  secretary  be  instructed  to  send  a  copy  of  the  minutes  of  the 
meeting  to  the  Kennel  Club  committee,  and  request  them  to  seriously  consider 
the  matter. 

By  this  energetic  defense  of  trimming,  the  specialty  club 
openly  challenged  the  highest  English  tribunal,  and  the 
result  is  that  we  have  the  Kennel  Club's  definition  of  a 
limit  to  the  practice;  for  at  a  meeting  held  February  4, 
1890,  it  was,  after  some  discussion,  voted,  unanimously, 
"that  the  committee  of  the  Kennel  Club  agree  with  the 
Bedlington  Terrier  Club  that  the  removal  of  '  superfluous 
hair'  is  allowable,  understanding  by  the  words  'superflu- 


THE   BEDLINGTON   TERRIER.  411. 

ous  hair '  the  old  or  dead  coat.  Any  removal  of  the  new 
coat,  or  trimming  of  head  or  ears,  they  consider  improper 
tampering."  With  this  decision  it  is  believed  that  Bed- 
lington  men  in  general  will  be  satisfied. 

But  few  Bedlingtons  have  been  shown  in  the  United 
States  as  yet,  and  they  have  been  mostly  imported  speci- 
mens. If  they  were  shown  in  larger  numbers,  so  that  the 
type  could  be  more  readily  seen  and  appreciated,  it  would 
greatly  help  them  in  popularity.  Now,  in  the  poorly  filled 
classes,  they  look  like  survivors  of  a  nearly  extinct  race. 
They  are  not  understood.  However,  there  are  opportuni- 
ties afforded  each  year  of  showing  under  excellent  judges. 
New  faces  appear  from  time  to  time  on  the  show  benches, 
and  testify  to  an  appreciation  among  some  few.  If  these 
dogs  ever  get  a  favorable  start,  I  do  not  see  why  they  may 
not  become  favorites  in  certain  parts  of  the  United  States. 

They  are  especially  adapted  to  our  rigorous  northern  cli- 
mate. They  care  so  little  for  the  luxuries  of  life  that  they 
thrive  where  some  other  dogs  would  not.  So  far  they  have 
found  the  most  favor  in  Canada.  One  of  their  best-known 
advocates  in  that  country  is  Mr.  W.  S.  Jackson,  of  Toronto; 
and  the  blue  dogs  may  be  proud  of  their  friend,  as  people 
who  have  had  the  pleasure  of  meeting  him  will  understand. 
There  is  good  Bedlington  blood  in  British  America,  as  far 
west  as  Victoria,  Vancouver's  Island,  and  as  far  east  as 
Halifax,  Nova  Scotia.  In  the  United  States,  it  is  scattered 
about  north  of  Mason  and  Dixon's  line. 


THE  IRISH  TERRIER. 


BY  DR.  J.  S.  NIVEN. 


all  things  Hibernian,  the  history  of  this  dog  is 
r«j  somewhat  mixed;  in  fact,  very  little  is  known  about 
=|>  it.  From  very  old  men  with  whom  I  talked  twenty 
years  ago,  some  of  whom  could  recollect  back  sixty  years 
or  more,  I  have  learned  that  Terriers  of  a  red  or  badger 
color  were  numerous  in  the  days  of  their  boyhood,  and 
were  largely  used  for  all  kinds  of  field  sports,  both  on  land 
and  water.  From  what  I  could  learn,  these  dogs  were  at 
that  time  of  a  much  larger  type  than  those  bred  nowadays. 
It  is  only  within  the  last  lew  years  that  any  prominence 
has  been  given  to  the  Irish  Terrier  by  fanciers.  Formerly 
they  were  kept  for  sport  alone,  and  very  little  attention  was 
paid  to  breeding  for  any  special  type,  the  object  being  sim- 
ply to  get  good  hard  workers  which  were  able  to  endure  a 
great  amount  of  fatigue  and  exposure  to  severe  weather. 
The  principal  uses  to  which  these  dogs  were  put  in  olden 
days  were  hunting  the  water-rat  in  the  rivers,  drawing 
badgers  in  the  mountains,  and  killing  rabbits  as  they  were 
bolted  by  ferrets  from  the  warrens.  They  were  also  used 
as  watch-dogs  about  the  cotter  houses  of  Ireland. 

About  fifteen  years  ago  the  breed  had  become  very  much 
degenerated  by  the  admixture  of  Scotch  Terriers,  which 
were  being  largely  imported  into  Ireland  as  ratters.  The 
gentlemen  who  were  chiefly  interested  in  bringing  this  same 
breed  of  Terriers  up  again  to  an  established  type  were 
Messrs.  Mortin,  Erwin,  Ridgway,  Montgomery,  Jamison, 
Crosby,  Smith,  and  Marks,  and  later,  Messrs.  Krehl,  Des- 
pard,  Graham,  Pirn,  Carey,  Waterhouse,  and  others.  In  res- 
cuing the  breed  from  utter  destruction,  these  gentlemen  used 
every  means  within  their  reach,  and  have  been  well  rewarded; 

(413) 


414  THE   AMERICAN   BOOK    OF   THE   DOG. 

yet  their  work  has  not  been  done  without  the  national 
characteristic  of  contrariness  being  strongly  exhibited.  A 
most  bitter  and  still  undecided  controversy  has  been  the  con- 
sequence. The  principal  cause  of  all  the  trouble  has  been 
the  anomalous  decisions  of  the  judges  at  the  various  bench 
shows. 

The  question  of  size  has  been  the  bitterest  one  between 
the  different  factions.  There  can  be  no  doubt  that  many  of 
the  finest  and  purest  specimens  of  the  breed  were  of  large 
size,  weighing  thirty  to  forty  pounds,  and  even  more;  but 
the  desire  of  the  most  genuine  fanciers  of  this  breed  has 
been  to  reduce  the  weight  to  twenty -live  pounds  and  under. 
Another  vexed  question  is  that  of  cropiDing,  and  this  sub- 
ject had  been  coming  up  from  time  to  time  until  in  1888, 
when  the  Irish  Terrier  Club  passed  a  resolution  emphatic- 
ally condemning  the  custom.  Consequently,  the  croppers 
are  in  high  dudgeon,  and  it  will  take  years  yet  of  careful 
breeding  to  get  the  ears  of  the  Irish  Terrier  to  conform  to 
the  uniform  drop  of  those  of  its  contemporary,  the  Fox 
Terrier.  At  present  the  anti-croppers  have  the  best  of  the 
argument  as  far  as  usefulnesss  and  cruelty  are  concerned, 
but  the  advocates  of  cropping  have  some  strong  argu- 
ments on  their  side,  also,  as  only  a  small  percentage  of  Irish 
Terriers,  as  now  bred,  are  born  with  perfect  ears;  and  noth- 
ing is  such  an  eye-sore  to  a  Terrier  man  as  a  badly  carried 
ear,  which  judicious  cropping  does  away  with  in  a  great 
measure. 

The  English  Kennel  Club  has  also  taken  this  question 
up,  and  its  latest  decree  is  to  the  effect  that  all  Irish 
Terriers  born  after  December  31,  1889,  must  be  shown 
uncropped  at  all  shows  held  under  their  auspices.  To  show 
that  there  are  still  some  of  the  large  specimens,  I  copy  the 
following  from  the  "Whispers"  of  the  Stock-Keeper,  which 
may  be  attributed  to  the  editor,  Mr.  Krehl: 

It  is  one  of  our  pet  theories*  that  the  Irish  Terrier,  as  he  existed  in  the 
Emerald  Isle  before  the  cunning  hand  of  the  exhibitor  had  been  run  over  him, 
was  the  descendant  of  the  Irish  Wolfhound.  We  still  consider  "a  miniature 
Irish  Wolfhound  "  a  good  description  of  what  we  should  like  the  Irish  Terrier 
to  be.  Look  at  the  picture  of  that  grand  old  bitch  Spuds,  in  Stoneheng  ; 


THE   IRISH   TERRIER. 


415 


there  you  have  the  Wolfhound  head  and  outline.  Spuds  was  a  rare  type;  she 
had  her  faults,  and  we  all  knew  them,  but  her  memory  is  more  pleasant  to  our 
mind  than  the  sight  of  the  modern  prize-winners.  To  call  the  Irish  Terriers  of 
to-day  miniature  Wolfhounds  wou'd  be  sarcastic;  the  majority  of  them  are 
sour-faced,  yellow-eyed,  black-muzzled,  chumpy-headed,  and  thickly  built,  and 
with  bone  enough  for  a  Clydesdale  horse — in  fact,  these  overbred  creatures  are 
utterly  unlike  anything  else  so  ugly  as  themselves.  Of  course  this  is  only  our 
own  simple  and  inexperienced  opinion,  which  judges  and  connoisseurs  of  the 
breed  are  at  liberty  to  dismiss  with  contempt.  They  may  prefer  the  thick- 
legged  clodhoppers;  we  still  linger  on  the  memory  of  the  graceful  and  sym- 
metrical Terriers,  rather  light  in  build,  and  with  only  proportionate  bone  to 
carry  their  weight. 


mt f 


IRISH    TERRIER— NORAH. 
Owned  by  Dr.  J.  S.  Niven,  London,  Canada. 

Spuds  and  her  kind,  though,  were  already  cultivated  descendants  of  the 
big  rough  and  shaggy  dogs  that  the  peasants  kept  for  work.  These  Irish  Ter- 
riers were  brimful  of  the  splendid  character  that  is  attributed  to  the  breed. 
,There  was  a  world  of  love  in  their  expressive  brown  eyes,  their  natures  were 
gentle  with  children  and  women— in  fact,  so  timid  even  did  they  appear  that 
strangers  have  been  misled  into  thinking  them  without  courage;  but  what  a 
mistake !  The  caress-inviting  and  quiet  creature  in  a  moment,  if  a  blow  were 
aimed  at  its  master,  was  transformed  into  a  fury.  We  could  tell  some  won- 
derful tales  of  the  tractability,  and  the  prowess,  too,  of  the  old  sort,  but  we  fear 
to  grow  garrulous  on  a  favorite  and  much-loved  theme. 

Our  thoughts  were  led  back  to  "the  old  sort"  by  the  sight  of  a  dog  that 


416  THE   AMEEICAN   BOOK   OF  THE   DOG. 

Mr.  Frank  Aspinall,  the  brother  of  the  Kennel  Club  secretary,  lately  brought 
to  show  us.  This  was  one  of  them,  and  a  fine  Wolfhound  he  would  luive 
made  if  he  had  continued  to  grow.  He  stood  as  high  as  a  Collie,  and  look-  d 
to  weigh  fifty  pounds  or  more;  his  coat  was  rough  and  hard;  each  hair  was 
wheaten  from  the  body  to  the  tip,  which  was  red;  the  under  coat  was  woolly 
and  dense.  The  head  looked  all  of  ten  inches  long,  rather  narrow  across 
the  skull,  and  the  muzzle  powerful;  and  when  he  opened  his  mouth  and 
showed  his  "graveyard" — well,  we  felt  relieved  that  we  were  not  an  Irish 
landlord.  Mr.  Aspinall  told  us  his  jaw-power  was  enormous,  and  that  he 
could  pull  up  solid  planks  and  bite  through  half-inch  boards.  More  joy  that 
we  are  not  a  half -inch  board! 

But  to  return  to  our  Irishman — and,  by  the  way,  we  should  say  that  this 
dog  looked  Irish,  and  we  like  to  see  character  in  a  national  dog — Mr.  Aspinall 
told  us  that  he  purchased  him  from  a  Waterford  man,  who  said  he  came  from 
Connemara.  on  the  West  Coast.  Mr.  Aspinall  told  us  several  instances  of  his 
stanchness.  He  has  seen  him  swim  a  mile  in  a  fast  and  swollen  stream  which 
was  thick  with  floating  logs,  and  as  he  swam,  turning  from  one  bank  to  the 
other  after  the  rats  that  shot  in  and  out. 

The  history  of  i  he  present  Irish  Terrier  may  be  said  to 
date  from  1875,  several  dogs  having  that  year  been  exhib- 
ited at  Belfast,  Ireland,  the  home  of  Mr.  G.  Jamison.  The 
first  Irish  Terriers  that  were  ever  exhibited  in  England  were 
at  the  Brighton  Show,  in  October,  1876 — Banshee  and 
Spuds,  owned  by  Mr.  Jamison,  winning  first  and  second. 
Since  then  the  class  of  Irish  Terriers  has  increased  so 
much  that  they  almost  equal  in  numbers  the  Fox  Terrier 
and  surpass  the  Scotch  Terrier  classes,  showing  how  popu- 
lar the  breed  has  become  in  a  few  years.  The  Irish  Terrier 
Club  was  formed  in  Ireland  about  the  beginning  of  1879, 
and  since  that  date  the  Irish  have  been  well  represented, 
both  on  the  bench  and  in  the  public  press. 

Vero  Shaw  has  devoted  more  attention  to  this  breed  than 
any  other  modern  writer,  and  little  more  can  be  said  of  it 
than  is  found  in  his  works.  The  information  he  gives  was 
obtained,  principally,  from  Mr.  G.  H.  Krehl,  one  of  the 
most  enthusiastic  admirers  of  the  breed. 

The  Irish  Terrier  is  a  true  and  distinct  breed  indigenous  to  Ireland,  and 
no  man  can  trace  its  origin,  which  is  lost  in  antiquity.  Mr.  Ridgway,  of 
Waterford,  whose  name  is  familiar  in  Irish  Terrier  circles  from  having  drawn 
up  the  first  code  of  points,  states  that  they  have  been  known  in  Ireland  "as 
long  as  that  country  has  been  an  island,  and  I  ground  my  faith  in  their  age 
and  purity  on  the  fact  that  there  exist  old  manuscripts  in  Irish  mentioning  the 


THE   IRISH   TERRIER.  417 

existence  of  the  breed  at  a  very  remote  period."  In  old  pictures  representing 
scenes  of  Irish  life,  an  Irish  Terrier  or  two  are  often  to  be  descried.  Bally  - 
mena  and  County  Wicklow  may  almost  claim  to  be  the  birthplaces  of  the 
breed.  Most  of  the  best  specimens  hail  from  Ballymena  and  the  neighbor- 
hood, where  Mr.  Thomas  Erwin,  of  Irish  Setter  fame,  boasts  an  extensive 
experience  of  this  breed,'  and  has  always  kept  a  few  of  the  right  old  working 
sort  for  sporting  purposes;  and  "in  County  Wicklow,"  Mr.  Merry  says,  "  it  is 
well  known  that  the  pure  breed  of  Irish  Terriers  has  been  carefully  kept  dis- 
tinct and  highly  prized  for  more  than  a  century."  Mr.  E.  F.  Despard,  whose 
name  is  well  known  in  Irish  Terrier  circles  as  a  very  successful  breeder  and 
exhibitor,  claims  an  acquaintance  of  over  forty  years  with  the  breed.  Mr. 
George  Jamison,  too,  has  known  and  kept  them  many  years,  and  up  till  a  little 
while  ago  had  won  more  prizes  than  all  the  rest  of  the  breeders  put  together. 
I  mention  these  proofs  of  the  age  of  the  breed  to  show  those  who  have  lately 
come  to  admire  them  that  it  is  not  a  made  up,  composite,  or  mushroom  breed. 
They  are  part  of  Ireland's  national  economy,  and  are  worthily  embodied  in  the 
sportsman's  toast — "Irish  women,  Irish  horses,  and  Irish  dogs"  (which  means 
Irish  Terriers,  Setters,  and  Spaniels). 

One's  first  acquaintance  with  this  "prehistoric  Terrier"  is  apt  to  be  dis- 
appointing, except  to  a  really  "  doggy"  Terrier  man.  That  is  because  there  is 
no  meretricious  flash  about  them;  but  there  is  that  about  them  which  you 
learn  to  like — they  grow  upon  you.  They  supply  the  want  so  often  expressed 
for  "a  smart-looking  dog  with  something  in  him."  There  is  that  about  their 
rough-and-ready  appearance  which  can  only  be  described  as  genuine  Terrier,  or 
more  emphatically,  ' '  Terrier  character."  They  are  facile  princeps  the  sportsman 's 
Terrier;  and  having  never  yet  been  made  fashion's  darlings,  still  retain  in  all  its 
purity  their  instinctive  love  of  hard  work.  Their  characters  do  not  suit  them 
for  ladies'  pets,  but  render  them  the  best  dogs  out  for  the  man  that  loves  his 
gun  and  quiet  sport. 

Amongst  those  wise  old  fellows  that  one  comes  across  in  the  country,  who 
like  a  dog  with  something  in  him,  and  a  "  Terrier,"  of  course,  the  Irishman  is 
prime  favorite.  And  they  know  what  they  are  about,  those  old  fellows,  and 
are  sportsmen,  too,  in  their  own  sort  of  way,  when  the  sun  has  gone  down. 
This  reminds  me  of  a  discreditable  fact  in  the  history  of  Irish  Terriers,  that  they 
were  not  always  only  "the  poor  man's  sentinel,"  but  oftentimes  something 
more,  when  by  the  aid  of  their  marvelous  noses  and  long  legs  they,  when  the 
shades  of  night  had  fallen,  provided  the  pot  with  that  which  gave  forth  the 
savory  smell  and  imparted  a  flavor  to  the  "spuds."  This,  however,  if  it 
injured  their  moral  principles,  certainly  sustained  their  love  and  capability  for 
rabbiting  In  olden  times,  too,  the  larger  sizes  were  bred  and  used  for  right- 
ing, and  there  is  still  a  dash  of  the  old  fighting  blood  in  their  descendants. 
They  dearly  love  a  mill,  and  though  it  would  be  calumny  to  say  they  are  quar- 
relsome, yet  it  must  be  admitted  that  the  male  portion  of  the  breed  are  perhaps 
a  little  too  ready  to  resent  any  attempt  at  interfering  with  their  coats;  but  are 
they  not  Irish,  and  when  did  an  Irishman  shirk  a  shindy?  My  dog  Sporter  is 
very  true  to  character  in  this  respect.  Small  dogs,  or  even  those  of  his  own 
size,  he  never  deigns  to  notice;  but  if  some  large  specimen  of  the  genus  Cants 
27 


418  THE   AMERICAN   BOOK   OF   THE   DOG. 

approaches  him,  putting  on  "side"  and  airs,  Sporter  immediately  stiffens  up 
visibly,  his  tail  assumes  a  defiant  angle  above  the  horizontal,  his  ears  are  cocked 
forward  alertly,  and  there  is  an  ominous  twitching  of  his  upper  lips  which  says, 
as  plain  as  looks  can  speak,  "  Lave  me  alone,  ye  spalpeen."  Should  his  warning 
not  be  accepted,  a  scrimmage  ensues,  which  I  speedily  terminate  by  whipping 
him  up  under  my  arm  by  his  tail  and  marching  him  off.  En  passant,  I  recom- 
mend this  as  a  very  effectual  and  safe  manner  of  putting  a  stop  to  a  canine 
melee.  " Hitting  off"  Irish  Terriers  when  fighting  I  have  found  useless;  they 
think  the  pain  comes  from  their  opponent,  and  this  only  serves  to  rouse  them 
to  fresh  efforts. 

This  description,  although,  written  several  years  ago,  is 
still  held  to  be  correct,  and  nothing  need  be  added  to  it. 

All  that  the  Irish  Terrier  breeders  now  have  to  bewail 
(and  the  Irish  always  have  a  grievance  of  some  kind),  is 
the  want  of  judges  who  will  adhere  to  some  one  type.  I 
was  told  not  long  since,  by  one  of  the  most  prominent 
exhibitors  in  England,  that  all  he  needed  to  know  before 
exhibiting  at  a  show,  in  order  to  take  a  prize,  was  the  name 
of  the  judge,  and  that  he  could  then  choose  from  his  ken- 
nel the  dog  that  would  be  sure  to  win.  This  must  be  very 
nearly  correct,  as  I  see  his  name  often,  and  always  among 
the  first  flight.  This  is  not  right;  and  as  the  Irish  Terrier 
CJub  has  adopted  a  standard,  which  is  accepted  by  all  the 
most  prominent  breeders,  it  ought  to  be  adhered  to.  The 
standard  being  established,  all  that  is  necessary  is  for 
judges  to  abide  by  it,  and  disqualify  all  dogs  that  go  over 
the  recognized  weight  of  twenty-four  pounds.  If  this  were 
done,  and  the  cropping  question  permanently  disposed  of, 
there  would  then  be  a  bright  future  for  the  Irish  Terrier 
and  his  breeder.  The  Irish  Terrier  now  stands  third  or 
fourth  in  numbers  at  all  shows  in  England  and  Ireland, 
being  outnumbered  only  by  Fox  Terriers,  Collies,  and  St. 
Bernards.  This  is  a  good  showing,  considering  how  short 
a  time  the  modern  Irish  Terrier  has  been  before  the  public. 

The  illustrations  which  accompany  this  article  are  for 
the  information  of  breeders  and  the  public.  Norah 
represents  the  old  type.  She  is  built  on  the  lines  of  the 
Irish  Wolfhound,  and  her  weight  was  twenty-two  pounds 
when  in  condition.  The  same  model  could  have  carried 
very  well  thirty  to  forty  pounds;  but  her  day  is  past,  and 


THE  IRISH   TERRIER.  419 

the  Irish  Terrier  of  to-day  is  modeled  after  the  second 
illustration,  which  represents  a  dog  that  weighed  about 
twenty  pounds.  From  his  shape  and  build  it  is  clearly  im- 
possible that  a  dog  of  his  type  would  be  of  any  use  at  much 
over  that  weight,  being  lower  on  legs  and  shorter  ribbed; 
if  he  were  heavy,  he  could  not  get  over  the  ground  as  easily 
as  a  lighter-built  dog. 

Perhaps  the  best  all-round  dog  that  has  been  before  the 
public  lately  is  Playday,  whose  death  we  have  lately 
seen  recorded.  He  was  the  lirst  uncropped  dog  that  was 
ever  awarded  a  prize,  and  was  successful  under  almost  all 
the  judges  at  the  English  shows.  He  is  proving  himself  a 
typical  dog,  although  as  an  immediate  sire  he  has  not 
made  a  good  record;  but  his  grandsons  and  granddaughters 
are  coming  well  to  the  front. 

There  is  one  point  that  can  not  be  passed  over  in  favor 
of  the  Irish  Terrier,  and  that  is  his  ability  to  adapt  himself 
to  any  climate  or  any  surroundings.  In  this  respect,  he  is 
a  long  way  ahead  of  either  the  Fox  Terrier  or  the  Scotch 
Terrier.  He  is  daily  in  request  for  India,  China,  and  the 
antipodes,  where  the  other  breeds  fail  to  acclimatize.  He 
is  just  as  happy  in  the  closed-up  den  of  the  peasant  as  he 
is  in  the  kennel  of  the  millionaire.  He  is,  par  excellence, 
the  dog  of  the  people. 

In  this  connection,  the  notes  of  Mr.  Ridgway  and  Mr. 
Jamison,  both  prominent  Irish  fanciers  of  the  breed  in 
question,  are  well  worthy  of  study,  and  are  given  below,  as 
well  as  the  scale  of  points  which  has  been  adopted  by  the 
Irish  Terrier  Club,  and  is  now  accepted  by  all  breeders. 

Mr.  Ridgway  says : 

That  the  Irish  Terrier  is  and  has  been  a  pure  breed  of  dogs  indigenous  to 
Ireland,  is  a  fact  undoubted,  and  undisputed  by  the  oldest  fanciers  and  breeders 
still  living,  who  can  well  remember  the  dog  fifty  or  sixty  years  ago,  and  at  a 
time  before  the  introduction  to  this  country  of  the  Skye,  Yorkshire,  or  English 
Bull  Terrier,  now  so  fashionable  in  many  parts. 

No  doubt  this  breed  has  of  late  years  been  allowed  to  degenerate  sadly, 
from  want  of  proper  interest  having  been  taken  in  it;  but  notwithstanding  this, 
we  can  still  bring  forward  specimens  of  our  Irish  Terriers,  such  as  have  been 
seen  at  several  of  our  leading  Irish  shows,  which  for  usefulness,  intelli- 


420  THE   AMERICAN   BOOK   OF  THE   DOG. 

gence,  and  gameness,  as  well  as  general  appear,: nee,  are  second  to  no  breed  of 
Terriers  in  the  kingdom. 

As  a  breed,  they  are  peculiarly  adapted  to  the  country,  being  particularly 
hardy,  and  able  to  bear  any  amount  of  wet,  cold,  and  hardship  without  show- 
ing the  slightest  symptoms  of  fatigue.  Their  coat  also  being  a  hard  and  wiry 
one,  they  can  hunt  the  thickest  gorse  or  furze  cover  without  the  slightest 
inconvenience.  As  for  the  capabilities  of  these  dogs  for  taking  the  water,  and 
hunting  in  it  as  well  as  on  land,  I  may  mention,  as  one  instance,  that  a  gentle- 
man in  the  adjoining  County  of  Tipperary  keeps  a  pack  of  these  Terriers,  and 
has  done  so  for  years,  with  which  he  will  hunt  otters  as  successfully  as  anyone 
can  with  any  pack  of  pure  Otter  Hounds. 

Within  the  last  few  years,  and  since  the  introduction  of  dog  shows  into 
Ireland,  a  far  greater  interest  than  heretofore  has  been  taken  in  this  breed, 


IRISH    TERRIER— MARS. 
Owned  by  W.  J.  Comstock,  216  Canal  street,  Providence,  R.  I. 

and  consequently  a  greater  amount  of  care  is  evinced  now  in  selecting  the 
proper  specimens  to  breed  from ;  so  that  in  a  short  time  we  may  look  forward 
to  see  the  Irish  Terrier  just  as  fashionable  and  as  much  sought  for  in  England 
as  the  English  Fox  Terrier  is  at  present. 

Mr.  Jamison  says : 

The  Irish  Terrier,  as  his  name  denotes,  is  the  representative  of  the  Emerald 
Isle,  and  especially  suitable  for  his  native  damp  country,  being  able  to  stand 
much  more  wet,  cold,  and  fatigue  than  most  other  Terriers.  The  coat  is  so 
hard  and  flat  on  the  body  that  water  can  not  penetrate  it,  and  not  being  too 
long,  does  not  hinder  the  dog  in  cover-work.  This  breed  is  more  used  as 
vermin  destroyers  than  for  any  other  purpose,  which  principally  accounts  for 
breeding  for  size  being  teglected.  However,  within  the  last  fifteen  years  the 
breed  has  been  much  closer  looked  after,  and  at  the  present  time,  there  are  a 


THE   IRISH   TERRIER.  421 

number  of  these  clogs  that  in  point  of  show  qualities  will  vie  as  near  perfection 
as  most  breeds. 

There  are  certain  enthusiasts  who  have  been  writing  this  breed  up  in 
fancier  papers  as  the  only  genuine  working  Terrier.  This,  of  course,  is  non- 
sense. At  the  same  time  it  is  a  recognized  fact  that  from  their  peculiar  hardy, 
active  habits  they,  at  least,  are  deserving  of  a  front  rank  among  working 
Terriers.  The  Irish  Terrier  Club  has  recently  been  the  means  of  the  breed 
being  brought  something  more  prominently  before  the  public,  but  some  of  the 
prominent  members  will  require  to  exercise  a  little  more  patience  and  forbear- 
ance, or  the  object  of  the  club  will  be  frustrated. 

The  Irish  Terrier  Club's  scale  of  points  and  description 
of  the  true  Irish  Terrier  are  here  given: 

POSITIVE   POINTS. 

Value.  Value. 

Head,  jaw,  teeth,  and  eyes 15    Hind  quarters  and  stern .  10 

Ears 5    Coat 15 

Legs  and  feet 10     Color 10 

Neck 5     Size  and  symmetry 10 

Shoulders  and  chest 10 

Back  and  loin 10            Total 100 

NEGATIVE  POINTS. 

Value.  Value. 

White  nails,  toes,  and  feet. . .  .minus  10  Coat  shaggy,  curly  or  soft,  .minus  10 

Much  white  on  chest "      10    Uneven  in  color     "        5 

Ears  cropped 5 

Mouth  undershot  or  cankered'.      "       10  Total    50 

Disqualifying  Points:     Nose,  cherry  or  red;  brindle  color. 

Head. — Long;  skull  flat,  and  rather  narrow  between 
ears,  getting  slightly  narrower  toward  the  eye;  free  from 
wrinkle;  stop  hardly  visible,  except  in  profile.  The  jaw 
must  be  strong  and  muscular,  but  not  too  full  in  the  cheek, 
and  of  a  good  punishing  length,  but  not  so  fine  as  a  White 
English  Terriers.  There  should  be  a  slight  falling  away 
below  the  eye,  so  as  not  to  have  a  Greyhound  appearance. 
Hair  on  face  of  same  description  as  on  body,  but  short 
(about  a  quarter  of  an  inch  long),  in  appearance  almost 
smooth  and  straight;  a  slight  beard  is  the  only  longish  hair 
(and  it  is  only  long  in  comparison  with  the  rest)  that  is  per- 
missible, and  that  is  characteristic. 

Teetli. — Should  be  strong  and  level. 

Lips. — Not  so  tight  as  a  Bull  Terrier's,  but  well-fitting, 
showing  through  the  hair  their  black  lining. 

Nose. — Must  be  black. 


422  THE   AMERICAN   BOOK  OF   THE   DOG. 

Eyes. — A  dark  hazel-color,  small,  not  prominent,  and 
full  of  life,  fire,  and  intelligence. 

Ears. — When  uncut,  small  and  Y-shaped,  of  moderate 
thickness,  set  well  up  on  head  and  dropping  forward 
closely  to  the  cheek.  The  ear  must  be  free  of  fringe,  and 
the  hair  thereon  shorter  and  generally  darker  in  color  than 
the  body. 

Neck. — Should  be  of  a  fair  length,  and  gradually  widen- 
ing toward  the  shoulders,  well  carried,  and  free  of  throati- 
ness.  There  is  generally  a  slight  sort  of  frill  visible  at  each 
side  of  the  neck,  running  nearly  to  the  corner  of  the  ear, 
which  is  looked  on  as  very  characteristic. 

Shoulders  and  chest. — Shoulders  must  be  fine,  long,  and 
sloping  well  into  the  back;  the  chest  deep  and  muscular, 
but  neither  full  nor  wide. 

Back  and  loin. — Body  moderately  long;  back  should  be 
strong  and  straight,  with  no  appearance  of  slackness 
behind  the  shoulders;  the  loin  broad  and  powerful,  and 
slightly  arched;  ribs  fairly  sprung,  rather  deep  than  round, 
and  well  ribbed  back. 

Hind  quarters. — Well  under  the  dog;  should  be  strong 
and  muscular,  the  thighs  powerful,  hocks  near  the  ground, 
stifles  not  much  bent. 

Stern. — Generally  docked;  should  be  free  of  fringe  or 
feather,  set  on  pretty  high,  carried  gaily,  but  not  over  the 
back  or  curled . 

Feet  and  legs. — Feet  should  be  strong,  tolerably  round, 
and  moderately  small;  toes  arched,  and  neither  turned  out 
nor  in;  black  toe-nails  are  preferable  and  most  desirable. 
Legs  moderately  long,  well  set  from  the  shoulders,  perfectly 
straight,  with  plenty  of  bone  and  muscle;  the  elbows  work- 
ing freely  clear  of  the  sides,  pasterns  short  and  straight, 
hardly  noticeable.  Both  fore  and  hind  legs  should  be 
moved  straight  forward  when  traveling,  the  stifles  not 
turned  outward,  the  legs  free  of  feather,  and  covered,  like 
the  head,  with  as  hard  a  texture  of  coat  as  body,  but  not 
so  loni. 

Coat. — Hard  and  wiry,  free  of  softness  or  silkiness,  not 


THE   IRISH   TERRIER.  423 

so  long  as  to  hide  the  outlines  of  the  body,  particularly  in 
the  hind  quarters,  straight  and  flat,  no  shagginess,  and  free 
of  lock  or  curl. 

Color. — Should  be  "whole  colored,"  the  most  preferable 
being  bright  red;  next  wheaten,  yellow,  and  gray — brindle 
disqualifying.  White  sometimes  appears  on  chest  and 
feet;  it  is  more  objectionable  on  the  latter  than  on  the 
chest,  as  a  speck  of  white  on  chest  is  frequently  to  be  seen 
in  all  self-colored  breeds. 

Size  and  symmetry. — Weight  in  show  condition,  from 
sixteen  pounds  to  twenty-four  pounds — say  sixteen  pounds 
to  twenty- two  pounds  for  bitches  and  eighteen  pounds  to 
twenty-four  pounds  for  dogs.  The  most  desirable  weight  is 
twenty-two  pounds  or  under,  which  is  a  nice,  stylish,  and 
useful  size.  The  dog  must  present  an  active,  lively,  lithe, 
and  wiry  appearance;  lots  of  substance,  at  the  same  time 
free  of  clumsiness,  as  speed  and  endurance,  as  well  as 
power,  are  very  essential.  They  must  be  neither  "cloddy" 
nor  "cobby,"  but  should  be  framed  on  the  "lines  of 
speed,"  showing  a  graceful  "racing  outline." 

Temperament. — Dogs  that  are  very  game  are  usually 
surly  or  snappish.  The  Irish  Terrier,  as  a  breed,  is  an 
exception,  being  remarkably  good-tempered — notably  so 
with  mankind;  it  being  admitted,  however,  that  he  is  per- 
haps a  little  too  ready  to  resent  interference  on  the  part  of 
other  dogs.  There  is  a  heedless,  reckless  pluck  about  the 
Irish  Terrier  which  is  characteristic,  and  coupled  with  the 
headlong  dash,  blind  to  all  consequences,  with  which  he 
rushes  at  his  adversary,  has  earned  for  the  breed  the  proud 
epithet  of  "the  dare-devils."  When  "off  duty"  they 
are  characterized  by  a  quiet,  caress-inviting  appearance;  and 
when  one  sees  them  endearingly,  timidly  pushing  their 
heads  into  their  master's  hands,  it  is  difficult  to  realize  that 
on  occasion,  at  the  "set  on,"  they  can  prove  they  have  the 
courage  of  a  lion,  and  will  fight  on  to  the  last  breath  in 
their  bodies.  They  develop  an  extraordinary  devotion  to, 
and  have  been  known  to  track  their  masters  almost  incred- 
ible distances. 


424  THE   AMERICAN   BOOK    OF  THE    DOG. 

As  a  matter  of  information  for  those  interested,  I  give 
below  the  names  and  addresses  of  a  few  of  the  prominent 
breeders  and  owners  of  Irish  Terriers  in  this  country: 
Chestnut  Hill  Kennels,  Philadelphia,  Penn.;  J.  F.  McFad- 
den,  121  Chestnut  street,  Philadelphia,  Penn.;  Thomas 
Pulverstaft,  47  Sands  street,  Brooklyn,  N.  Y.;  F.  P.  Kirby, 
135  South  Eighth  street,  Philadelphia,  Penn. ;  E.  Wetmore, 
343  Lexington  avenue,  New  York  City;  Associated  Fan- 
ciers, 140  South  Eighth  street,  Philadelphia,  Penn. ;  Ogden 
Goelet,  608  Fifth  avenue,  New  York  City;  Somerset  Ken- 
nels, Bernardsville,  N.  J. ;  W.  J.  Comstock,  220  Canal 
street,  Providence,  R.  I.;  W.  S.  Clark,  Linden,  Mass.;  H. 
Denning,  474  Sixth  avenue,  New  York  City;  P.  F.  Clancy, 
440  Second  street,  South  Boston,  Mass. ;  Charles  F.  Leland, 
7  Beck  Hall,  Cambridge,  Mass.;  W.  L.  and  H.  A.  Harris, 
North  Wilmington,  Mass.;  Edward  Lever,  707  Walnut 
street,  Philadelphia,  Penn.;  E.  P.  Saltonstall,  Chestnut 
Hill,  Mass.;  William  A.  Dupee,  Chestnut  Hill,  Mass.; 
Lawrence  Timpson,  Red  Hook,  N.  J.;  H.  A.  Allan,  Mon- 
treal, Canada,  and  Joseph  Lindsay,  Montreal,  Canada. 


THE  BULL  TERRIER. 


BY  FRANK  F.  DOLE. 


speaking,  the  Bull  Terrier  is  the  result, 
as  tne  ^erm  indicates,  of  a  cross  between  a  Bulldog 
and  a  Terrier.  The  specimens  first  used  in  prop- 
agating it  are  believed  to  have  been  of  the  old  type  of 
Bulldog  and  the  White  Terrier  of  the  middle  counties  of 
England.  Since  its  origin,  however,  various  side-crosses 
have  been  resorted  to,  as  with  the  Mastiff,  the  Foxhound, 
Greyhound,  etc. 

The  breed  is  not  believed  to  be  an  old  one,  the  earliest 
authentic  records  we  have  of  it  dating  back  only  to  about 
1843,  though  it  doubtless  originated  some  years  earlier. 

The  Bull  Terrier  is  essentially  a  fighting  dog,  and  was 
not  always  made  up  of  these  two  constituent  parts,  as 
Hound,  Pointer,  Greyhound,  and  Mastiff  blood  have,  at 
times,  been  introduced  into  his  veins,  but  without  materi- 
ally improving  the  breed.  Whether  considered  from  a 
genealogical  point  of  view,  or  with  reference  only  to  his 
bodily  formation  and  general  Character,  he  is  as  smartly 
built  as  a  Terrier,  but  with  substance  inherited  from  the 
Bulldog.  He  is  quick  and  clever  in  his  actions,  and  pos- 
sesses the  courage,  resolution,  and  endurance  of  the  Bull- 
dog. 

He  is  naturally  inclined  to  be  good-tempered  and  ami- 
able with  his  associates  in  the  kennel;  yet  fee  is  possessed  of 
a  wonderful  amount  of  courage,  and  when  provoked  to 
anger  will  hold  his  own  in  the  most  approved  style. 
Always  with  a  bright  expression,  he  never  sulks  when 
punished,  if  his  training  has  been  of  the  proper  sort. 

Vero  Shaw  tersely  indicates  the  character  of  the  breed 
in  these  words:  "Treat  him  kindly,  don't  knock  him 

(4-25) 


426  THE  AMERICAN    BOOK    OF   THE   DOG. 

about,  and  no  dog  will  have  greater  love  for  his  master 
than  the  game,  handsome,  and  affectionate  Bull  Terrier." 

By  nature  he  is  especially  fitted  for  a  companion  for 
either  a  gentleman,  a  lady,  or  children,  while  as  a  house- 
dog he  has  no  superior;  for,  besides  being  kind  and  affec- 
tionate to  children,  he  is  an  excellent  watch-dog  and  an 
expert  ratter. 

In  breeding  the  Bull  Terrier  to  the  best  possible  advan- 
tage, care  should  be  taken  in  selecting  the  sire,  which  should 
be  a  dog  of  strong  Terrier  character.  In  nearly  every 
litter  there  are  some  puppies  that  are  marked  either  with 
brown,  brindle,  or  black.  Most  breeders  destroy  these, 
which  I  think  is  entirely  wrong,  for  often  in  this  way  we  lose 
some  of  our  best  specimens.  Although  Mark-eyed  Victor 
took  his  name  from  the  brindle  patch  around  his  eye,  he 
won  numerous  prizes,  and  was  undoubtedly  the  best  dog  of 
his  day. 

Champion  Trentham  Dutch,  winner  and  sire  of  winners, 
has  a  marked  ear.  This  dog  was  bred  by  Mr.  J.  R.  Pratt,' 
of  Stoke-upon-Trent,  England,  whose  name  will  be  handed 
down  among  the  Bull  Terrier  fanciers  the  world  over  as  the 
breeder  of  the  greatest  litter  of  Bull  Terriers  ever  known. 
This  litter  was  by  Dutch,  out  of  Champion  Maggie  May. 
In  the  litter  was  Champion  Queen  of  the  May,  Harvester, 
and  Champion  Trentham  Dutch. 

Mr.  Pratt  retained  the  two  former,  which  were  pure 
white,  and  sold  the  marked  dog  for  seven  dollars  and  fifty 
cents.  The  purchaser  sold  him  again  to  Mr.  Simon  Field- 
ing, the  well-known  Bull  Terrier  fancier,  who  kept  him,  and 
had  the  satisfaction  of  beating  the  other  two.  While  in 
England,  I  would  have  bought  Trentham  Dutch,  but  I  was 
influenced  by  a  disciple  of  another  school  not  to  do  so, 
which  I  have  always  regretted,  as  he  has  proved  himself  a 
worthy  sire. 

The  prize-winning  strain  in  the  breed  of  Bull  Terriers 
assumes  the  same  regularity  as  in  the  case  of  celebrated 
horses.  Maggie  May,  whom  I  imported  in  1886,  supplied 
the  show  bench  in  England  for  several  years  with  winners. 


THE   BULL   TEERIER. 


427 


Although  at  the  time  I  bought  her  she  was  over  eight  years 
old,  I  gave  fifty  pounds  for  her.  She  was  supposed  to  be 
in  whelp  to  Dutch,  but  did  not  prove  to  be.  At  the  Jubilee 
Show,  in  1887,  I  met  Mr.  J.  R.  Pratt,  from  whom  I  pur- 
chased her;  and  in  speaking  of  Bull  Terriers,  he  said:  "If 


Owned   by  F.  F.  Dole,  115   Blake  street,   New  Haven,  Conn 

Maggie  May  will  breed,  you  have  the  best  Bull  Terrier  in 
the  world." 

Before  leaving  America  I  had  bred  her  to  Grand  Duke, 
and  his  remark  made  me  suspicious  of  her  condition.  I 
immediately  cabled  to  America,  and  found,  to  my  relief, 
that  she  was  in  whelp.  This  litter  produced  three  bitches 
and  one  dog.  Shortly  after  birth  the  dog  died,  but  of  the 
three  bitches  I  sold  one,  who  has  since  died.  The  two  I 


428  THE   AMERICAN   BOOK    OF   THE   DOG. 

retained  are  well-known  winners — Starlight,  the  subject  of 
our  illustration,  and  My  Queen. 

Starlight  has  been  bred  three  times,  and  is  the  dam  of 
Don  Pedro,  who  has  won  second  in  open  and  first  in  puppy 
class  at  Toledo,  in  1889,  and  first  in  open  and  first  in  puppy 
class  at  Toronto,  in  the  same  year.  When  only  nine  months 
old,  Sensation,  the  sire  of  Don  Pedro,  was  a  twenty-pound 
dog.  Don  Pedro  weighed  fifty -three  pounds  at  one  year  of 
age.  I  merely  mention  this  instance  to  show  that  one  can 
not  breed  for  size  with  certainty,  as  small  dogs  are  liable  to 
get  large  ones,  and  vice  versa.  I  next  bred  her  to  Hinks, 
and  have  two  six-month-old  puppies,  the  best  I  ever  saw, 
and  if  nothing  unforeseen  happens,  they  will  do  themselves 
and  their  progenitors  great  credit. 

In  the  rapid  advanc.es  of  show  dogs  to  popularity,  few 
breeds  have  made  the  great  strides  that  the  Bull  Terrier 
has.  This  advance  has  undoubtedly  been  brought  about 
largely  by  the  importation  into  this  country  of  some  of  the 
finest  specimens  obtainable  in  England.  Among  the  most 
prominent  dogs  of  this  breed  that  have  been  imported  to 
this  country,  I  would  mention  the  following:  Grand  Duke 
and  Little  Maggie,  owned  by  Messrs.  R.  and  W.  Living- 
stone; Dutch,  Jr.,  owned  by  T.  R.  Varrick;  Champion 
Victoria,  owned  by  E.  S.  Porter;  Champion  Cairo,  Grab- 
ber, Bonnie  Princess,  Enterprise,  and  Spotless  Prince, 
owned  by  W.  F.  Hobbie;  Champion  Jubilee,  owned  by  W. 
F.  Comstock;  Champion  Count,  Champion  Maggie  May, 
Lady  in  White,  Lady  Tarquin,  Little  Dorrit,  The  Earl, 
King  Patrick,  Queen  Bendigo,  Hinks,  Lady  Melville,  and 
Bendigo,  owned  by  the  writer.* 

Anyone  at  all  familiar  with  Bull  Terriers,  in  England  or 
America,  will  readily  see  that  this  breed  of  dogs  has  had 

*  Among  other  breeders  and  owners  of  good  Bull  Terriers,  may  be  men- 
tioned: C.  Albert  Stevens,  Castle  Point,  Hoboken,  N.  J.;  W.  F.  Hobbie,  54 
Exchange  place,  New  York  City;  Retnor  Kennels,  4  West  Sixty-sixth  street, 
New  York  City;  Andrew  Gerlach,  Rochester,  N.  Y.;  Eugene  D.  Hays,  13 
East  Sixty-first  street,  New  York  City;  E.  D.  Morgan,  Hempstead,  Long  Island; 
W.  L.  and  H.  A.  Harris,  North  Wilmington,  Mass.;  Campbell  &  Blake, 


THE   BULL  TERRIER.  '429 

good  backing,  as  it  takes  a  great  amount  of  time,  patience, 
and  money  to  import,  breed,. and  show  them. 

The  late  Mr.  James  Hinks,  of  Birmingham,  England, 
will  long  be  remembered  as  one  who  did  more  than  any 
other  individual  to  improve  the  Bull  Terrier,  and  many  of 
our  best  specimens  bear  testimony  to  that  fact,  as  they  date 
to  his  strain.  Since  Mr.  Hinks'  death,  his  son  Frederick 
has  brought  out  more  good  Bull  Terriers  than  anyone  else. 
Most  all  of  the  leading  breeders  have  dipped  deeply  into 
Hinks'  Old  Victor  strain. 

Of  the  more  modern  strains,  the  Marquis  and  Dutch  are 
the  most  prominent.  The  former  gets  the  shorter  body  and 
better  tails,  while  the  latter  gets  better  eyes  and  longer 
heads,  but  the  dogs  have  not  the  Terrier  character  of  the 
Marquis  strain.  Many  who  own  Bull  Terriers,  and  find  the 
name  of  Dutch  in  their  pedigree,  think,  no  doubt,  that  he 
was  a  great  winner.  Such  was  not  the  case,  I  can  assure 
them,  as  I  had  the  pleasure  of  seeing  Dutch  in  Birming- 
ham, England,  during  the  summer  of  1887. 

When  Dutch  was  a  mere  puppy  he  was  sent  out  to  keep, 
and  the  man  who  had  charge  of  him  was  fond  of  telling  the 
eld-r  Mr.  Hinks  how  well  he  was  getting  on,  and  particu- 
larly of  his  wonderful  chest  development.  When  about 
nine  months  old  he  was  brought  in,  and  was  found  to  be 
completely  ruined  for  the  show  bench,  as  he  had  been  kept 
on  a  chain  for  so  long  a  time  that  he  was  so  far  out  at 
elbows,  in  front  and  behind,  as  to  be  declared  deformed. 
Having  been  ruined  for  the  show  bench,  he  was  put  at  stud, 
and  made  a  name  greater  than  any  prize-winner. 

While  speaking  of  stud  dogs,  1  may  say  that  my  stud, 
dog  Bendigo  would  not  rank  high  as  a  show  dog,  being  too 
much  out  at  elbows,  but  his  record  as  a  sire  of  prize-win- 
ners bids  fair  to  eclipse  Dutch's.  From  this  fact  it  will  be 


48  Woodward  avenue,  Detroit,  Mich.;  William  J.  Bryson,  204  Dearborn  street, 
Chicago;  William  Mariner,  405  Broadway,  Milwaukee,  Wis. ;  J.  C.  Mahler, 
31  Taggert  street,  Allegheny,  Penn.;  E.  S.  Porter,  New  Haven,  Conn.;  A. 
Wilgren,  Clarksburg,  Ontario,  Canada;  Dr.  T.  Plant,  18  Travers  street, 
Boston,  Mass. — ED. 


430'  THE   AMERICAN   BOOK    OF   THE   DOG. 

seen  that  a  dog,  in  order  to  get  winners,  need  not  neces- 
xsarily  be  himself  a  winner. 

Many  people  are  prejudiced  against  Bull  Terriers  on 
account  of  their  alleged  temper;  but  I  have  owned  in  the 
neighborhood  of  one  hundred  of  these  dogs  in  the  past  six 
years,  and  while  I  acknowledge  that  there  is  some  founda- 
tion for  this  prejudice,  still  I  unhesitatingly  affirm  that  it  is 
greatly  exaggerated,  for,  if  properly  brought  up,  the  Bull 
Terrier  has  more  affection  for  his  master  than  any  other 
dog. 

The  Bull  Terrier  is  at  a  greater  disadvantage  when  shown 
out  of  condition  than  any  other  dog,  and  the  following 
points  in  regard  to  putting  specimens  of  this  breed  in 
proper  condition,  gleaned  from  my  own  experience,  should 
be  of  great  service  to  the  novice. 

It  usually  takes  at  least  six  weeks  to  put  a  dog  of  this 
breed  into  good  form;  and  to  do  it  in  that  time,  the  dog 
must  be  physically  well  at  the  start. 

The  first  thing  to  do  is  to  give  him  a  dose  of  opening-med  - 
icine.  Syrup  of  buckthorn  and  castor-oil  are  my  prefer- 
ence, and  should  be  given  the  last  thing  at  night.  The 
dog's  food,  for  a  day  or  two,  should  consist  of  oatmeal 
gruel  and  a  little  meat,  and  he  should  be  given  gentle 
exercise.  After  that,  work  begins  in  earnest.  His  exercise 
should  be  gradually  increased  from  a  slow  walk  of  from  two 
to  five  miles  in  the  morning;  and  the  same  distance  should 
be  given  him  in  the  afternoon.  After  returning  from  exer- 
cise he  should  be  thoroughly  dried  with  a  coarse  towel,  then 
well  groomed  with  a  hair-glove,  which,  in  my  estimation, 
is  the  best  method  of  grooming. 

After  this,  the  dog  should  be  given  a  good  hand-rubbing. 
All  grooming  should  be  done  one  way,  running  with  the 
hair.  The  dog  should  then  be  put  in  a  kennel  supplied 
with  clean  straw,  which  should' be  changed  daily.  As  the 
exercise  is  increased,  the  meat  portion  of  the  food  should 
also  be  increased.  One  Spratt's  biscuit,  given  dry,  for 
breakfast,  and  meat  and  vegetables  for  supper,  with  plenty 
of  the  former,  are,  in  my  opinion,  the  best  diet.  The 


THE   BULL   TERRIER.  431 

washing  of  a  Bull  Terrier  for  exhibition  is  an  important 
matter,  and  the  following  is  my  method: 

First  remove  the  long  smellers,  eyelashes,  and  all  of  the 
hair  on  the  inside  of  the  ear.  This  will  sharpen  his  appear- 
ance wonderfully.  Next,  place  the  dog  in  a  shallow  tub, 
with  a  little  lukewarm  water,  and  thoroughly  wet  him 
with  clean  water.  Beginning  at  his  head,  he  should  be 
well  lathered  with  white  castile  soap,  and  then  rinsed  with 
clean  water.  Afterward,  repeat  the  operation  on  all  parts 
of  his  body,  leaving  the  tail  till  the  last. 

After  the  bath,  he  should  be  well  dried  with  plenty  of 
clean  towels,  and  then  a  thorough  hand-rubbing  should 
be  given  him.  He  should  then  be  returned  to  his  kennel 
of  clean  straw  and  kept  there  for  several  hours. 

The  illustration  on  page  427  is  of  the  well-known  Bull 
Terrier  bitch  Starlight,  bred  by  the  writer,  without  doubt 
the  best  specimen  ever  bred  in  America.  In  the  opinion 
of  Mr.  Charles  H.  Mason,  she  is  n't  to  win  at  any  show. 
She  was  whelped  July  28,  1887,  is  by  Champion  Grand 
Duke,  out  of  Champion  Maggie  May,  who  was  called  in 
England  the  pillar  of  the  Kennel  Club  Stud  Book. 

Starlight  is  the  winner  of  the  following  prizes :  First, 
puppy  class,  Boston,  1888 ;  first  in  both  open  and  puppy 
class,  New  Haven,  1888 ;  first,  Troy,  1889  ;  first,  Toledo, 
1889  ;  first  and  special,  Toronto,  1889  ;  first  and  special, 
Danbury,  1889. 

Below  will  be  found  the  points  of  the  Bull  Terrier 
adopted  by  the  Bull  Terrier  Club  of  England: 

General  appearance. — The  general  appearance  of  the 
Bull  Terrier  is  that  of  a  symmetrical  animal,  an  embodi- 
ment of  agility,  grace,  elegance,  and  determination. 

Head. — The  head  should  be  long,  flat,  and  wide  between 
the  ears,  tapering  to  the  nose,  without  cheek  muscles. 
There  should  be  a  slight  indentation  down  the  face,  without 
a  "stop"  between  the  eyes.  The  jaws  should  be  long  and 
very  powerful,  with  a  large  black  nose  and  open  nostrils. 
Eyes  small  and  very  black.  The  lips  should  meet  as  tightly 
as  possible,  without  a  fold.  The  teeth  should  be  regular 


432  THE   AMERICAN    BOOK   OF   THE   DOG. 

in  shape,  and  should  meet  exactly;  any  deviation,  such  as 
a  " pig- jaw"  or  "being  underhung,"  is  a  great  fault. 

Ears.— The  ears  are  always  cropped  for  the  show  bench, 
and  should  be  done  scientifically  and  according  to  fashion. 

Neck. — The  neck  should  be  long  and  slightly  arched, 
nicely  set  into  the  shoulders,  tapering  to  the  head,  without 
any  loose  skin,  as  found  in  the  Bulldog. 

Shoulders. — The  shoulders  should  be  strong,  muscular, 
and  slanting ;  the  chest  wide  and  deep,  with  ribs  well 
rounded. 

Back. — The  back  short  and  muscular,  but  not  out  of  pro- 
portion to  the  general  contour  of  the  animal. 

Legs. — The  fore  legs  should  be  perfectly  straight,  with 
well-developed  muscles  ;  not  "  out  at  shoulder,"  but  set  on 
the  racing-lines,  and  very  strong  at  the  pastern.  The  hind 
legs  are  long,  and  in  proportion  to  the  fore  legs,  muscular, 
with  good,  strong,  straight  hocks,  well  let  down  near  the 
ground. 

Feet. — The  feet  are  not  resembling  those  of  a  cat  or  the 
Greyhound,  but  more  after  the  style  of  the  hare,  compact, 
with  well- arched  toes. 

Color.—  White. 

Coat. — Short,  close,  and  stiff  to  the  touch,  with  a  fine 
gloss. 

Tail. — This  should  be  from  ten  to  twelve  inches  long, 
according  to  the  size  of  the  dog  ;  set  on  very  low  down; 
thick  where  it  joins  the  body,  and  tapering  to  a  fine  point. 
It  should  be  carried  at  an  angle  of  about  forty-five  degrees, 
without  curl,  and  never  over  the  back. 

Weight.—  From  fifteen  to  fifty  pounds. 


THE  WHITE  ENGLISH  TERRIER. 


BY  E.  F.  BURNS. 


>HIS  is  an  old  breed,  and  a  very  popular  one  in  Eng- 
land, but  is  as  yet  little  known  in  this  country.  It 
is  destined  to  become  more  widely  distributed  and 
more  popular  here,  however,  for  its  bright,  merry,  sprightly, 
affectionate  disposition,  its  elegant  and  symmetrical  shape, 
its  undaunted  courage,  its  brilliant  white  coat,  its  spark- 
ling black  eye,  and  its  generally  handsome  appearance  are 
such  as  to  commend  it  to  everyone  who  may  want  a  small 
dog  for  the  house  or  for  a  companion.  It  is  fond  of  human 
society,  either  of  children  or  adults,  and  is  never  more 
highly  delighted  than  when  petted  by  master  or  mistress, 
young  or  old. 

The  White  Terrier,  while  by  no  means  quarrelsome,  is 
game  from  the  tip  of  his  nose  to  the  end  of  his  tail.  He 
will  brook  no  intrusion  on  his  domain,  and  will  assail  a  dog 
five  times  his  own  size  as  savagely  and  as  confidently  as  he 
would  a  rat,  if  the  stranger  but  approach  his  master  or 
mistress. 

He  has  an  excellent  nose,  is  the  natural  enemy  of  ver- 
min, and  no  dog  is  more  eager  in  its  pursuit  or  more  suc- 
cessful in  exterminating  it.  It  is  as  utterly  impossible  for 
a  rat  to  live,  on  the  premises  where  a  White  Terrier  is  kept, 
as  for  water  to  run  up-stream.  This  breed  differs  from  the 
Black  and  Tan  Terrier  principally  in  the  matter  of  color;  in 
many  other  respects  the  two  breeds  are  nearly  identical. 

Concerning  the  status  of  the  White  Terrier  in  England, 
"  Idstone"  says: 

The  English  smooth-coated  Terrier  is  a  dog  seldom  seen  except  in  the  pos- 
session of  dog-traders  and  "fanciers,"  as  they  call  themselves,  being  bred  for 
show  more  than  for  use.     Ten  or  twelve  years  ago  it  was  at  most  of  our  dog 
28  f433) 


434 


THE   AMERICAN   BOOK    OF   THE   DOG. 


shows,  and  the  breed  commanded  considerable  attention,  especially  when  the 
dog  had  plenty  of  courage  and  intelligence;  but  this  was  the  exception.  As  a 
rule,  the  show  Terrier  is  not  a  hardy  nor  a  courageous  dog.  Most  of  his  life 
has  been  passed  in  a  highly  varnished  mahogany  kennel,  by  a  bar-parlor  fire, 
or  in  the  arms  of  some  opulent  or  quasi-opulent  dog-breeder,  whose  chief  voca- 
tion is  to  show  his  ' '  stud  "  of  Terriers  for  cups  and  collars. 

Twenty-five  years  ago  the  colored  or  partly  colored  dog,  fallow,  or  even 
brindled,  or  with  head  and  body  markings,  would  have  had  a  chance  of  a  prize 
at  these  public-house  meetings;  but  since  the  exhibition  of  dogs  has  been  a 
prominent  feature  in  the  fashionable  amusements  of  large  cities,  the  dog  has 
been  so  cultivated  that  white  dogs  only  are  admissible. 


WHITE    ENGLISH  TERRIER— WHITE   PRINCE   (A.  K.  C.  S.  B.  16733). 
Owned  by  Mr.  E.  F.  Burns,  Taunton,  Mass. 

I  have  little  doubt  that  these  London  and  Manchester  Terriers  were  ' '  the 
pick"  of  what  are  now  commonly  received  as  Fox  Terriers,  purchased  up  and 
down  the  country  by  those  agents  who  have  a  roving  commission  to  ' '  snap 
up "  anything  which  they  can  find  which  is  neat  and  salable.  These  smart 
country  Terriers  were  collected  in  London  by  the  keen-eyed  "  fancy,"  and  frmn 
these  the  White  Terrier  was  gradually  produced. 

None  of  these  breeders  can  trace  their  breed  for  many  years;  and  all  the 
best  white  dogs  were  the  sons  of  one  known  in  London  as  King  Dick.  He  was 
succeeded  by  his  son,  known  as  Young  King  Dick;  but  neither  of  these  dogs, 
so  far  as  I  remember,  were  equal  to  some  dogs  exhibited  in  1863,  by  Frederick 
White,  of  Crescent  Lane,  Clapham  Common,  named  Fly,  Laddie,  Nettle,  and 
Teddy.  Twenty  dogs  were  entered  in  the  class,  but  Mr.  White's  were  the 


THE   WHITE    ENGLISH   TEKKIEE.  435 

only  specimens  which  had  any  business  there.  Birmingham  alone  produces  a 
good  class  in  a  general  way,  and  the  rarity  of  the  best  sort  may  be  inferred  from 
the  fact  that  the  same  dogs  won  year  after  year  without  fearing  rivalry.  This 
is  the  case  with  Mr.  Walker's  Tim,  which  has  won  fifty-six  first  prizes  and 
champion  cups. 

The  weight  of  the  White  Terrier  may  vary  from  nine  to 
twenty  pounds.  The  description  and  points  for  judging  are 
as  follows: 

Value.  Value. 

Head 10    Color 10 

Legs  . .- 5     General  appearance 10 

Feet 5     Action 5 

Body 5 

Total  50 

Head  narrow,  long,  and  flat;  skull  narrow  between  the 
ears. 

Muzzle  must  be  fine,  tapering,  sharp,  and  foxy.  Jaw 
muscular.  Mouth  must  not  be  undershot;  better  the  upper 
jaw  slightly  over,  if  there  is  any  deviation  from  a  level 
mouth.  The  stop  or  indent  between  the  eyes  must  be  evi- 
dent and  pronounced.  Eye  must  be  sparkling  bright,  but 
not  large.  The  ears  must  be  round,  flat  to  the  head;  in 
repose  raised,  although  falling  over  when  the  dog  is  aroused. 
A  tulip  or  prick  ear  is  a  great  deformity,  and  shows 
mongrel  blood.  It  is  customary  to  crop  the  ears. 

Neck  long,  tapering,  and  muscular,  and  clean  where  it 
joins  the  lower  jaw.  Ribs  must  be  well  rounded.  Shoul- 
ders deep  and  well  set  back,  powerful  as  possible;  loins 
strong  and  back  ribs  deep.  In  conformation,  the  body  must 
be  neither  high  nor  wide.  Fore  legs  should  be  straight 
as  arrows  ;  hind  legs  moderately  straight;  feet  strong  and 
muscular;  toes  slightly  arched  and  well  split;  form  of  foot 
round  and  fox-like;  thigh  large  and  muscular;  Ttock  in  a 
straight  line.  The  tail  should  be  fine  at  the  point  and 
thick  at  the  root,  with  a  low  carriage,  but  not  bare.  When 
the  dog  is  excited,  it  should  be  carried  gaily. 

Color  should  be  white;  coat  smooth  and  hard,  yet  free 
from  roughness.  Temperament  same  as  in  Bull  Ter- 
rier. Anything  approaching  coarseness  of  coat  about  the 
muzzle,  thighs,  eyebrows,  or  any  part  of  the  profile,  is 
objectionable. 


436  THE   AMERICAN   BOOK    OF   THE   DOG. 

Recently  some  good  specimens  of  the  White  Terrier 
have  been  imported  from  England.  Several  American 
breeders  and  fanciers  are  becoming  aware  of  the  good 
qualities  of  this  dog,  and  are  turning  their  attention  to  the 
development  of  the  breed  in  this  country,  and  the  White 
Terrier  is  destined  to  win  his  way  to  popular  favor  here  at 
no  distant  day. 

White  Prince*  (A.  K.  C.  S.  B.  16733,  volume  7),  the 
property  of  the  writer,  is  one  of  the  best  representatives  of 
his  breed  in  this  country.  He  was  imported  in  1888  by  Mr. 
Routley,  of  Providence,  R.  I.,  and  was  bred  by  Mr.  Bergon, 
of  Birmingham,  England ;  sire,  Turk ;  dam,  Slendor ;  reg- 
istered in  English  Stud  Book. 

*In  1890  White  Prince  won  first  at  Providence,  R.  I.;  Boston,  Lynn,  New 
Bedford,  and  Taunton.  Mass.;  and  at  New  York  City.  He  won  eight  special 
prizes  in  England,  before  coming  to  this  country.  His  weight  is  eighteen 
pounds. — ED. 


THE  YORKSHIRE  TERRIER. 

BY  P.  H.  COOMBS. 


little  knight  of  the  carpet  is  eminently  an  English 
production,  or  manufacture,  if  we  may  use  the  term, 
and  occupies  a  most  prominent  position  in  the  canine 
world,  being  consider-  d  by  many  the  handsomest  of  all 
long-haired  Terriers,  and  has  been  appropriately  termed  by 
one  writer  "the  little  Yorkshire  swell." 

Standing  out  in  bold  relief  from  most  other  toy  varie- 
ties, by  his  picturesque  arrangement  of  coat,  his  color,  his 
diminutive  size,  and  his  stylish  form,  and  being  preemi- 
nently the  ladies'  pet,  he  has  a  reasonable  claim  to  the  dis- 
tinction of  being  the  most  fashionable  toy  breed  of  the  day 
in  this  country,  as  well  as  in  England,  where  he  originated- 

We  are  fortunate  in  being  able  to  quote  from  various 
writers  relating  to  the  origin  of  the  breed,  and  before  com- 
mitting ourselves  to  any  opinion  concerning  this  important 
subject,  it  is  desirable  to  read  what  such  writers  have  learned 
from  their  experience  and  investigation.  Mr.  Vero  Shaw, 
in  his  "Illustrated  Book  of  the  Dog,"  says  on  this  point: 

The  origin  of  the  breed  is  most  obscure,  for  its  originators— Yorkshire- 
like — were  discreet  enough  to  hold  their  own  pounsel,  and  kept  their  secrets  to 
themselves.  Whether  this  reticence  on  their  part  has  had  the  effect  of  stifling 
the  inquiries  of  curious  persons,  or  whether  the  merits  of  the  breed  have 
hitherto  been  sufficiently  unappreciated  by  the  public,  we  can  not  pretend  to 
say;  but  we  are  aware  of  no  correspondence  or  particular  interest  having  been 
taken  on  the  subject  of  the  Yorkshire  Terrier's  origin. 

In  certain  works  on  the  dog,  however,  deductions  have  been  drawn  which 
no  doubt  are  more  or  less  worthy  of  respect.  The  Black  and  Tan  Terrier,  the 
Skye,  and  the  Maltese  are  all  credited  with  the  paternity  of  the  Yorkshire 
Terrier.  That  the  breed  in  question  resembles  the  Skye  in  certain  details  is 
evident,  but  in  many  important  points  the  two  varieties  vary  widely.  For 
instance,  the  back  of  the  Yorkshire  Terrier  must  be  short  and  the  back  of  a 
Skye  Terrier  long;  so  as  regards  shape,  at  least,  the  Yorkshire  man  can  not  be 

(437) 


438 


THE   AMERICAN    BOOK    OF   THE   DOG. 


accused  of  a  great  resemblance  to  his  northern  neighbor.  In  our  eyes  the 
breed  much  more  closely  resembles  the  Maltese  dog,  save  in  color;  but  there  is 
no  doubt  that  some  of  our  more  typical  breeds  of  'Terriers  have  been  also 
drawn  upon  for  his  production.  Many  persons  who  are  ignorant  on  "  doggy  " 
subjects  persistently  confuse  the  Yorkshire  with  what  they  term  the  "Scotch 
Terrier,"  thereby  meaning  the  Skye,  we  presume.  There  is,  however,  no 
visible  ground  or  reason  ever  given  for  their  opinions,  which  are  certainly  based 
on  error,  and  ignorance  of  the  subject 


LANCASHIRE    BEN  (A.  K.  C.  S   B.   16278;. 
Owned  by  P.  H.  Coombs,  Bangor,  Maine. 

Before  leaving  the  subject  of  the  Yorkshire  Terrier's  origin,  it  may  be 
remarked  that  the  puppies  are  born  black  in  color,  as  are  Dandy  Dinmonts, 
and  do  not  obtain  their  proper  shade  of  coat  until  they  are  some  months  old. 
Searchers  after  the  truth  may  here  discover  some  connection,  which  we  our- 
selves confess  we  do  not,  between  the  Yorkshire  and  Dandy  Dininont  Terriers, 
in  consequence  of  this  peculiarity  in  the  young  of  both  varieties. 

Mr.  Hugh  Dalziel,  in  his  "British  Dogs,"  says  of  this 
breed : 

This  dog  long  went  by  the  name  of  Rough  or  Scotch  Terrier,  and  many 
dog-show  committees  in  issuing  their  schedules  still  include  them  under  that 


THE    YORKSHIRE   TERRIER.  439 

heading;  but  to  call  them  Scotch  is  quite  a  misnomer,  the  true  Scotch  Terrier 
being  a  much  rougher,  shorter,  and  harder  coated  dog,  of  greater  size  and 
hardiness,  and  altogether  a  rough-and-tumble  vermin  dog.  .  .  .  That  the 
Yorkshire  Terrier  should  have  been  called  Scotch  by  those  who,  although  they 
may  have  the  credit  of  producing  this  dog,  probably  did  not  know  of  the 
existence  of  the  real  Scotch  Terrier  as  a  breed,  suggests  that  at  least  a  Terrier 
of  Scotland  has  had  something  to  do  with  his  manufacture.  Now,  among 
Terriers  recognized  as  Scotch,  if  not  now  peculiar  to  the  country,  we  have  the 
old  hard,  short  coated  Scotch  Terrier  par  excellence ;  the  short-legged  and 
mixed-coated  Dandie;  the  Skyes,  with  long,  weasel-like  bodies,  and  long,  hard 
coat ;  and  the  perky  little  prick-eared,  hard  and  short  coated  Abeidonian ; 
and,  in  addition,  the  Glasgow  or  Paisley  Skye,  a  more  toyisli  dog,  shorter  in 
back,  and  comparatively  soft  and  silky  in  coat,  which  it  probably  inherits 
from  a  Maltese  Terrier  cross.  My  theory,  then,  respecting  the  origin  of  the 
Yorkshire  Terriers  (and  I  admit  it  is  only  a  theory,  for  the  most  diligent  and 
repeated  inquiries  on  my  part  in  all  likely  or  promising  quarters  have  failed 
in  elucidating  reliable  facts,  and  none,  certainly,  contradictory  to  my  views)  is 
that  the  dog  was  what  gardeners  call  "a  sport "  from  some  lucky  combination 
of  one  of  the  Scotch  Terriers — either  the  genuine  Skye  or  Paisley  Toy — and  one 
of  the  old  soft  and  longish  coated  black-and-tan  English  Terriers,  at  one  time 
common  enough,  and  probably  a  dash  of  Maltese  blood  in  it. 

Mr.  G.  H.  Wilkinson  says,  in  his  article  published  in 
the  English  Stock-Keeper  in  1887 — and  we  shall  quote  from 
this  quite  extensively  throughout  this  chapter,  for  the 
reason  that  it  contains  some  valuable  information  relating 
to  the  breed  that  has  not,  we  believe,  appeared  in  book 
form— concerning  the  history  as  learned  by  him  : 

In  commencing  an  article  on  the  Yorkshire  Terrier,  it  is  necessary  to  trace 
back  its  origin  as  far  as  possible.  With  this  object  in  view,  I  have  been  at 
some  trouble  in  looking  up  several  old  fanciers,  one  of  whom,  John  Richard- 
son, of  Halifax,  is  now  in  his  sixty-seventh  year.  And  very  interesting  it 
was  to  hear  this  aged  man  go  back  to  the  "good  old  days"  of  over  half  a 
century  ago.  I  regret,  however,  that,  although  we  can  find  men  who  have 
been  in  the  fancy  so  long,  the  origin  of  the  Yorkshire  Terrier  is  somewhat 
obscure.  Fifty  years  ago,  there  was  in  Halifax,  and  the  immediate  neighbor- 
hood, a  type  of  dog  called  at  that  time  (and  even  within  these  last  twenty 
years)  a  "  Waterside  Terrier; "  a  little  game  dog,  varying  in  weight  from  six  to 
twenty  pounds,  mostly  about  ten  pounds  weight — a  dog  resembling  very  much 
the  present  Welsh  and  Airedale  Terrier  on  a  small  scale.  At  this  period,  these 
dogs  were  bred  for  the  purpose  of  hunting  and  killing  rats.  They  would  go 
into  the  river  and  work  with  a  ferret,  and  were  just  in  their  element  when  put 
into  a  rat-pit.  An  almost  daily  occurrence,  at  that  time,  was  to  back  them  to 
kill  a  given  number  of  rats  in  a  given  time. 

It  seems  almost  a  pity  that  such  a  breed  should  have  become  extinct.     Mr. 


440  THE   AMERICAN   BOOK   OF   THE    DOG. 

Richardson  himself  owned  a  little  bitch  called  Polly,  who  weighed  six  pounds, 
and  she  was  frequently  put  into  a  rat-pit  with  a  dozen  rats,  the  whole  of  which 
she  would  speedily  kill  against  time.  She  would  also  swim  the  river  and  hunt 
with  the  ferret.  This  little  bitch,  I  am  told,  had  four  or  five  inches  of  coat  on 
each  side  of  her  body,  with  a  white  or  silver  head.  At  that  time,  however, 
the  average  specimen  was  a  short  r-coated  dog,  with  grizzle-gray,  hardish 
coat.  It  however  seems  to  me,  and  is  also  the  opinion  of  many  old  fanciers 
whom  I  have  consulted,  that  they  were  the  ancestors  for  the  present  breed. 
There  is  no  doubt,  also,  that  the  blood  of  the  Skye  Terrier  was  introduced  at 
some  remote  period,  which  may  account  for  the  longer  coat  and  long  body 
that  existed  some  ten  or  fifteen  years  later.  No  care  or  definite  object,  however, 
seems  to  have  been  aimed  at  in  breeding,  at  this  time,  beyond  getting  a  dog 
thoroughly  game.  It  seems  that  it  was  more  by  good  luck  than  management 
that,  about  twenty  or  thirty  years  ago,  a  longer  and  softer  coated  dog  became 
known.  It  must  also  be  borne  in  mind  that  at  this  time  their  coats  were  not 
cultivated  as  they  were  later  on.  Dog  shows  were  almost  unknown  in  those 
days,  and  even  later  were  scarce. 

From  these  and  other  earlier  writers,  we  would  be  led  to 
infer  that  the  origin  of  this  breed  was  of  the  greatest  uncer- 
tainty, and  of  a  most  mysterious  nature.  That  such 
writers  were,  however,  highly  qualified  to  offer  sound  and 
most  valuable  opinions  on  the  subject  generally,  is  proved 
by  the  admirable  manner  in  which  they  have  treated  the 
principal  characteristics  descriptive  of  the  breed;  and  all 
specially  interested  in  the  breed  should  read  the  entire 
subject  as  treated  by  such  writers  as  Shaw,  Dalziel,  Wil- 
kinson, Bootman,  Watson,  and  others. 

No  doubt  much  difficulty  has  been  experienced  in 
obtaining  information  relating  to  its  early  history;  and  one 
opinion,  as  expressed  by  Shaw,  seems  to  be  that,  substan- 
tially, the  history  was  known,  but  that  it  was  kept  a  secret. 
It  would  be  manifestly  unjust  to  deprive  the  Yorkshire 
Terrier  of  the  title  to  a  pedigree  running  back  to  the  pro- 
genitors of  the  breed;  and  the  continued  correspondence  on 
and  investigation  into  the  subject  by  those  most  deeply 
interested,  together  with  their  better  acquaintance  with  old 
breeders  and  fanciers — a  condition  undoubtedly  brought 
about  through  the  agency  of  the  improved  quality  and 
increased  number  of  dog  shows,  and  the  intense  desire  on 
the  part  of  such  people  to  arrive  at  an  accurate,  intelligent 
explanation  of  the  origin  of  such  a  popular  breed — relieves 


THE  YORKSHIRE  TERRIER.  441 

us  from  adding  any  further    testimony  relating  to   the 
"mystery"  of  the  origin  of  this  breed. 

In  an  interesting  article  on  this  breed,  published  in  the 
Century  Magazine  in  1886,  and  written  by  Mr.  James  Wat- 
son, of  Philadelphia,  is  given  about  the  first  public  infor- 
mation tending  to  positively  identify  its  origin — to  a  certain 
extent,  at  least.  The  writer  says  : 

Some  of  our  authorities  have  attempted  to  throw  a  great  deal  of  mystery 
about  the  origin  of  the  Yorkshire  Terrier,  where  none  really  exists.  If  we 
consider  that  the  mill  operatives  who  originated  the  breed  by  careful  selection 
of  the  best  long-coated  small  Terriers  they  could  find  were  nearly  all  ignorant 
men,  unaccustomed  to  imparting  information  for  public  use,  we  may  see  some 
reason  why  reliable  facts  have  not  been  easily  attained.  Tin  se  early  writers 
show  but  little  knowledge  of  the  possibilities  of  selection.  Stonehenge,  for 
instance,  in  his  early  editions,  speaks  of  its  being  impossible  for  a  dog  with  a 
three-inch  coat  and  seven-inch  beard  to  be  a  descendant  of  the  soft-coated 
Scotch  Terrier,  without  a  cross  of  some  kind.  The  absurdity  of  this  is  seen 
when  we  remember  that  within  a  few  years  of  the  date  of  his  history,  York- 
shire Terriers  were  shown  with  twelve  inches  of  coat.  Then,  again,  he  speaks 
of  the  King  Charles  Spaniel  as  being  employed  to  give  the  blue  and  tan,  than 
which  a  more  ridiculous  statement  could  not  have  been  penned.  To  get  a  blue- 
and-tan,  long,  straight,  silky  coat,  breeders  were  not  likely  to  employ  a  black- 
and-tan  dog  with  a  wide  chest,  tucked-up  loin,  a  round,  bullet  head,  large, 
protruding  eyes,  and  heavy  Spaniel  ears.  The  idea  is  too  absurd  to  be  enter- 
tained for  a  moment.  As  arrayed  against  all  the  conjectures  of  theorists,  I 
have  in  my  possession  a  letter  from  Mrs.  M.  A.  Foster,  of  Bradford,  England, 
who  in  writing  of  the  dog  Bradford  Hero,  the  winner  of  ninety-seven  first 
prizes,  says:  "  The  pedigree  of  Bradford  Hero  includes  all  the  best  dogs  for 
thirty-five  years  back,  and  they  were  all  originally  bred  from  Scotch  Terriers, 
and  shown  as  such  until  a  few  years  back.  The  name  of  Yorkshire  Terrier 
was  given  to  them  on  account  of  their  being  improved  so  much  in  Yorkshire." 

Following  this,  and  about  a  year  later,  Mr.  Ed.  Boot- 
man,  of  Halifax,  England,  furnished  an  article  on  the 
origin  of  the  breed,  for  publication  in  the  English  Stock- 
Keeper,  which  that  journal,  "feeling  the  importance  of  all 
facts  relating  to  the  origin  of  the  breed,"  published,  as  fol- 
lows: 

Swift's  Old  Crab,  a  cross-bred  Scotch  Terrier,  Kershaw's  Kitty,  a  Skye, 
and  an  old  English  Terrier  bitch  kept  by  J.  Whittam,  then  residing  in  Hatter's 
Fold,  Halifax,  were  the  progenitors  of  the  present  race  of  Yorkshire  Terriers. 
These  dogs  were  in  the  zenith  of  their  fame  forty  years  ago.  The  owner  of 
Old  Crab  was  a  native  of  Halifax,  and  a  joiner  by  trade.  He  worked  at  Old- 
ham  for  some  time  as  a  journeyman,  and  then  removed  to  Manchester,  where 


442  THE  AMERICAN   BOOK    OF  THE  DOG. 

he  kept  a  public  house.  Whether  he  got  Crab  at  Oldham  or  Manchester  I 
have  not  been  able  to  ascertain.  He  had  him  when  in  Manchester,  and  from 
there  sent  him  several  times  to  Halifax  on  a  visit  to  Kitty.  The  last  visit 
would  be  about  1850. 

Crab  was  a  dog  of  about  eight  or  nine  pounds  weight,  with  a  good  Terrier 
head  and  eye,  but  with  a  long  body,  resembling  the  Scotch  Terrier.  The 
legs  and  muzzle  only  were  tanned,  and  the  hair  on  the  body  would  be  about 
three  or  four  inches  in  length.  He  has  stood  for  years  in  a  case  in  a  room  of 
the  Westgate  Hotel,  a  public  house  which  h]s  owner  kept  when  he  returned 
to  his  native  town,  where,  I  believe,  the  dog  may  be  seen  to-day. 

Kitty  was  a  bitch  different  in  type  from  Crab.  She  was  a  drop-eared  Skye, 
with  plenty  of  coat  of  a  blue  shade,  but  destitute  of  tan  on  any  part  of  the 
body.  Like  Crab,  she  had  no  pedigree.  She  was  originally  stolen  from  Man- 
chester and  sent  to  a  man  named  Jackson,  a  saddler  in  Huddersfield,  who, 
when  it  became  known  that  a  five-pound  reward  was  offered  in  Manchester  for 
her  recovery,  sent  her  to  a  person  named  Harrison,  then  a  waiter  at  the  White 
Swan  Hotel,  Halifax,  to  escape  detection;  and  from  Harrison  she  passed  into 
the  hands  of  Mr.  J.  Kershaw,  of  Beshop  Blaise,  a  public  house  which  once 
stood  on  the  Old  North  Bridge,  Halifax.  Prior  to  1851  Kitty  had  six  litters, 
all  of  which,  I  believe,  were  by  Crab.  In  these  six  litters  she  had  thirty-six 
puppies,  twTenty-eight  of  which  were  dogs,  and  served  to  stock  the  district 
with  rising  sires.  After  1851,  when  she  passed  into  the  possession  of  Mr.  F. 
Jaggar,  she  had  forty-four  puppies,  making  a  total  of  eighty. 

Mr.  Whittam's  bitch,  whose  name  I  can  not  get  to  know,  was  an  old  Eng- 
lish Terrier,  with  tanned  head,  ears,  and  legs,  and  a  sort  of  grizzle  back.  She 
was  built  on  the  lines  of  speed.  Like  the  others,  she  had  no  pedigree.  She 
was  sent  when  a  puppy  to  the  late  Bernard  Hartley,  of  Allen  Gate,  Halifax,  by 
a  friend  residing  in  Scotland.  When  Mr.  Hartley  had  got  tired  of  her,  he  gave 
her  to  his  coachman,  Mason,  who  in  turn  gave  her  to  his  friend  Whittam,  and 
Whittam  used  her  years  for  breeding  purposes.  Although  this  bitch  came 
from  Scotland,  it  is  believed  the  parents  were  from  this  district. 

The  last-named  writer  has  so  fully  identified  the  three 
dogs  first  employed  to  manufacture  the  breed,  together 
with  their  names,  ownership,  characteristics,  and  other  facts 
concerning  them,  that  there  can  be  no  doubt  as  to  the 
authenticity  of  the  history  of  the  origin  of  the  breed.  His 
history,  although  published  in  the  Stock-Keeper  in  1887, 
has  never  been  publicly  contradicted,  and  it  is  evident  that 
there  can  now  be  no  grounds  for  following  the  reasoning  of 
writers  who  claim  that  the  origin  is  a  mystery. 

The  development  since  that  time — judging  from  an  exam- 
ination of  the  pedigrees  of  the  most  prominent  dogs  of  the 
breed — has  been  the  result  of  judicious  selection  from  and 
breeding  with  dogs  that  most  nearly  approached  what  fan- 


THE  YORKSHIRE  TERRIER.  443 

ciers  and  breeders  thought  ought  to  be  the  type;  and  it  is 
probable  that  so  long  as  a  dog  of  this  breed  was  known  to 
have  some  of  the  blood  of  the  original  Old  Crab,  Kershaw's 
Kitty,  and  Whittam's  bitch — the  sole  progenitors  of  the 
breed — former  breeders  did  not  inquire  too  curiously  into 
the  pedigree  of  all  the  dogs  used.  This  seems  to  be  a  rea- 
sonable supposition,  and  should  fully  account,  in  the  case 
of  some  prominent  dogs,  for  the  lack  of  a  complete  pedi- 
gree running  back  to  the  three  dogs  above  named.  It  is  a 
well-established  fact  that  the  principal  strains  have  been 
most  jealously  guarded  by  the  people  in  the  north  of  Eng- 
land. 

In  noting  the  development  of  the  breed  up  to  its  present 
standard,  it  may  be  stated,  to  commence  with,  that  it  has 
been  principally  accomplished  by  the  people — mostly  oper- 
atives in  cotton  and  woolen  mills — in  the  counties  of  York- 
shire and  Lancashire,  England,  where  it  originated.  Un- 
fortunately, at  its  first  appearance  at  our  shows,  almost 
anything  in  the  shape  of  a  Terrier  having  a  long  coat,  with 
some  shade  or  effect  of  blue  on  the  body,  fawn  or  silver- 
more  frequently  the  latter — colored  head  and  legs,  with 
tail  docked  and  ears  trimmed,  was  received  and  admired 
as  a  Yorkshire  Terrier  by  most  everyone  except  the  few 
competent  judges;  and  the  breed,  fashionable  as  it  is,  is 
still  much  neglected  in  this  country,  for  the  reason  that  its 
care  is  not  so  well  understood  as  that  of  many  other  breeds, 
and  a  good  specimen  soon  loses  its  fine  show  condition  by 
reason  of  lack  of  that  regular  and  well-directed  care 
necessary  to  cultivate  and  keep  the  coat  looking  right. 

Dog  shews  have,  however,  had  the  same  effect  on  this 
as  on  other  breeds.  With  the  annual  improvement,  in 
quality,  of  the  dogs  exhibited,  people  have  learned  more 
about  the  points  required  of  a  well-bred  specimen,  and  the 
worst  type  of  dogs  claiming  title  to  the  name  has  almost 
disappeared  from  our  shows.  Terrier  properties  should  be, 
and  are,  considered  by  competent  judges,  for  although 
toys,  they  are  essentially  Terriers,  and  called  Terriers;  con- 
sequently there  is  no  valid  reason  why  they  should  not  be 


444  THE   AMEEICAN   BOOK    OF   THE  DOG. 

recognized  as  such.  More  competent  judges  are  also  now 
to  be  obtained  by  the  managers  of  our  shows,  although  it 
must  n  «t  be  taken  for  granted  that  all  acting  in  this 
capacity  are  thoroughly  educated,  or  united  on  the  stand- 
ard as  established  for  the  breed,  to  recognize  one  regular 
type.  But  it  is  pleasant  to  note  that  much  impiovement 
has  been  made  within  the  past  few  years  in  this  direction, 
and  that  the  rapid  increase  in  number  of  typical  specimens 
has  served  to  educate  fanciers  to  a  better  idea  of  what  the 
breed  ought  to  be;  and  the  Yorkshire  Terrier  classes  are 
now,  in  the  majority  of  instances,  well  represented,  in  point 
of  numbers  as  well  as  quality,  at  most  of  our  important 
shows. 

The  Yorkshire,  like  other  Terriers,  is  naturally  remark- 
able for  its  sagacity,  alertness,  courage,  and  eagerness  in 
the  pursuit  of  vermin,  although  many  of  the  small,  weak, 
inbred  specimens  have,  undoubtedly,  lost  much  of  the 
Terrier  instinct.  The  natural  courage  of  the  breed  is 
such,  however,  that  it  will  readily  resist  attacks  from  dogs 
much  larger  than  itself,  and,  as  a  ratter,  would  quickly  obey 
the  natural  instinct  if  allowed  to  do  so;  but  wisdom  on  the 
part  of  the  owner  usually  prevents  a  small,  valuable  dog 
from  enjoying  such  recreation.  They  are  essentially  toys, 
and,  as  a  rule,  are  most  interesting  and  cunning  as  compan- 
ions and  house-dogs;  and  the  large  number  of  ladies  and 
children  attracted  to  their  cages  wherever  they  are  shown 
indicates,  to  some  extent,  their  popularity. 

All  previous  writers,  except  Mr.  Bootman,  state  that  the 
color  of  puppies  when  born  is  black  and  tan;  but  the  latter 
states  that  "mouse-color  and  tan,  and  even  fawn,  are  not 
unfrequently  seen/'  Blue  or  mouse-colored  puppies  have 
also  been  observed  to  some  extent  in  my  experience,  and 
they  being  bred  from  the  best  stock  obtainable,  I  can  cor- 
roborate the  statement  made  by  Mr.  Bootman.  We  also 
learn,  through  some  of  the  English  fanciers,  that  some  of 
the  first  prize-winners  of  that  country  were  born  blue  and 
tan,  but  it  is  generally  understood  that  most  of  the  good 
ones  are  born  black  and  tan. 


THE   YORKSHIRE   TERRIER.          .  445 

In  managing,  breeding,  and  exhibiting  Yorkshire  Ter- 
riers, a  good  and  regular  amount  of  exercise  is  most  essen- 
tial to  their  general  health,  as  to  that  of  any  toy  dog.  The 
means  by  which  the  necessary  amount  of  exercise  is  given 
must  be  determined  by  -the  owner ;  the  condition  of  the 
weather  having  an  important  bearing  upon  the  question, 
owing  to  the  length  of  its  coat,  and  the  absolute  necessity 
of  preserving  it  if  one  expects  to  be  successful  in  the  show 
ring.  A  great  deal  of  a  dog's  appearance  depends  upon 
whether  or  not  he  be  well  groomed;  and  this  important 
operation  has  probably  never  been  practiced  with  skill  and 
regularity  by  many  exhibitors,  who,  on  showing  their  dogs, 
are  surprised  to  find  that  they  compare  unfavorably  with 
others  as  to  their  coats.  Grooming,  to  be  effective,  must  be 
thorough;  but  it  is  hard  to  convince  some  people  of  its 
benefit.  Many  appliances  are  more  or  less  used  as  aids 
to  the  Yorkshire  Terrier's  toilet;  and  perhaps  no  better 
description  of  the  process  necessary  to  be  employed  in  the 
management  and  care  of  these  Terriers'  coats  can  be  given 
than  that  by  Mr.  G.  H.  Wilkinson,  before  referred  to. 
He  says  : 

Beyond  taking  care  of  them  and  keeping  their  beds  dry  and  warm,  very 
little  notice  is  taken  of  them  till  about  three  or  four  months  old,  when  the  hair 
has  got  rough  and  begins  to  show  signs  of  altering  color  on  the  skull  and  down 
the  center  of  the  back.  Then  begins  a  long  and  tedious  preparation  of  daily 
brushing,  to  cultivate  a  parting  in  the  coat.  I  then  slightly  grease  them  all 
over  with  the  following,  which  I  have  always  used:  Six  ounces  of  neat's-foot 
oil;  six  drachms  of  tincture  of  cantharides;  six  drops  of  oil  of  rosemary;  put 
into  a  bottle,  and  always  shake  well  before  applying.  This  is  certain  to  make 
the  hair  grow.  One  of  the  main  causes  why  we  always  keep  them  greased  is 
to  keep  the  coat  straight,  and  free  from  clots  or  matting  together. 

They  are  usually  washed  once  a  week,  and  greased  again  the  same  day.  I 
also  keep  each  foot  tied  up  in  a  small  stocking  or  bag,  to  prevent  them  scratch- 
ing or  catching  their  claws  in  the  coat  and  dragging  it  out.  It  is  really  won- 
derful the  great  change  and  improvement  that  can  be  seen  each  week.  When 
washing,  I  use  a  bit  of  good  plain  soap.  Dog-soaps,  as  advertised,  are  too  strong 
for  their  delicate  skins.  After  washing,  they  should  be  well  dried  wLh  a  soft 
towel,  placed  on  a  stool  in  front  of  a  good  warm  fire,  and  afterward  carefully 
combed  and  brushed.  I  say  carefully  combed,  because  it  is  easy  to  pull  off 
more  hair  at  one  time  than  can  be  grown  again  in  many  weeks,  and  they 
should  always  be  combed  and  brushed  till  every  hair  is  thoroughly  free.  If 
any  small  clots  are  left,  it  will  only  be  so  much  worse  to  get  out  next  time. 


446  THE  AMERICAN   BOOK   OF  THE   DOG. 

This  weekly  process  must  be  continued  through  life,  if  one  desires  to  have  the 
dog's  coat  perfect.  Some  dogs  grow  much  more  coat  than  others,  however, 
and  all  the  care  and  attention  in  the  world  won't  make  some  dogs  carry  more 
than  a  moderate  amount. 

It  is  not  advisable  to  give  a  small  dog  of  this  breed  much 
meat;  but  a  small  quantity,  well  cooked  and  cut  up,  mixed 
with  cooked  vegetables  or  bread  and  gravy,  may  be  fed,  to 
advantage,  occasionally.  Their  diet  should  consist  mainly 
of  plain  food,  of  a  farinaceous  and  not  heating  quality;  and 
while  some  feed  but  once  a  day,  it  is  believed  to  be  better 
to  feed  them  twice.  Care  should  always  be  taken  not  to 
overfeed.  The  long  hair  on  the  head  should  be  carefully 
tied  back  on  top  of  the  head,  especially  while  feeding;  for 
if  allowed  to  become  dirty,  it  will  rot  and  break  at  the  ends 
until  it  is  eventually  spoiled.  For  their  treatment  in  sick- 
ness and  disease,  the  general  subject,  by  "  Ashmont,"  con- 
tained in  another  part  of  this  work,  should  be  carefully 
studied.  They  require  very  little  medicine,  however,  and 
proper  care  and  nursing  will  frequently  do  more  good  in  case 
of  sickness  than  any  other  treatment.  If  a  laxative  is  needed, 
there  is  nothing  safer  than  a  tea-spoonful  of  castor-oil. 

It  is  likely  that  some  suffering  is  endured  by  puppies  in 
shedding  their  milk,  or  deciduous  teeth;  and  in  the  York- 
shire Terrier,  like  most  other  toy  breeds,  this  begins  about 
the  fifth  month,  and  it  is  several  months  before  the  per- 
manent set  is  established.  The  complete  possession  of  the 
permanent  set  should  occur  before  they  are  nine  months 
old,  but  this  is  only  the  rule. 

It  is  considered  necessary  by  some  to  extract  the  milk- 
teeth  with  instruments  as  soon  as  they  show  signs  of  loosen- 
ing; but  usually  it  is  best  to  let  nature  perform  its  work  in 
this  respect,  and  lamb  or  other  soft  bones  may  be  given  at 
this  time.  A  tooth  may  be  extracted  with  the  finger  and 
thumb  if  loose  enough,  but,  as  they  are  very  sensitive  about 
an  operation  of  this  kind,  it  is  better  not  to  apply  the 
instrument,  except  in  a  case  where  a  tooth  bas  remained  so 
long  as  to  become  re-fixed,  and  affects  the  regular  and  even 
growth  of  permanent  teeth. 


THE   YORKSHIRE  TERRIER. 


447 


After  the  permanent  set  has  been  established,  it  is  nec- 
essary that  they  be  kept  clean  and  white  by  the  same 
method  employed  in  cleansing  human  teeth,  and  the  mouth 
should  always  be  carefully  looked  after.  Also  avoid  giving 
whole  bones  if  it  is  desired  to  keep  the  permanent  set; 
ground  or  broken  bone  will  do  as  well,  and  save  the  annoy- 
ance of  a  missing  tooth,  which  some  people — lacking  in 
experience — may  regard  as  a  blemish.  Teeth  extracted  to 


CHAMPION    BRADFORD    HARRY  f  A.  K.  C.  S.  B.  13124). 
Owned   by  Mr.   P.   H.  Coombs,   Bangor,   Maine. 

destroy  the  evidence  of  an  uneven,  defective  mouth  should 
not  deceive  an  experienced  judge;  but  the  loss  of  a  tooth  or 
two  from  accidental  causes,  or  even  age,  should  not  be 
considered  as  a  fault  or  blemish,  when  quality  otherwise 
really  exists. 

The  remedies  used  for  preventing  and  exterminating  ver- 
min are  numerous;  and  a  Yorkshire  must  be  kept  absolutely 
free  from  such  torments,  or  its  coat  will  soon  be  ruined. 


448  THE  AMERICAN   BOOK    OF  THE  DOG. 

Some  of  the  disinfectants  in  common  use  are  very  effective 
and  convenient  for  use  in  exterminating  vermin,  and  should 
be  used  for  keeping  the  surroundings  clean,  as  well  as  on 
the  dog. 

The  practice  of  docking  the  tail  and  cropping  the  ears 
of  Yorkshire  Terriers  is  almost  universal,  and  while  the 
former  operation  is  accompanied  with  very  little  pain,  being 
usually  performed  at  from  four  to  six  weeks  after  birth, 
there  are  good  grounds  for  questioning  the  practice  of  crop- 
ping the  ears — an  operation  which  can  not  be  performed 
without  pain;  for  even  if  anaesthetics  are  employed,  and 
proper  astringents  applied  to  the  wound  as  soon  as  pos- 
sible, there  must  necessarily  be  considerable  suffering  dur- 
ing the  process  of  healing;  and  while  it  is  generally  admitted 
that  an  uncropped  specimen  would  stand  a  small  chance  of 
winning  under  most  judges,  yet  it  is  sincerely  hoped  that  the 
sentiment  against  the  practice  will  prevail,  and  that  the 
fashion  of  cropped  dogs  will  be  ultimately  abolished. 

In  preparing  and  keeping  a  Yorkshire  Terrier  in  condi- 
tion for  exhibiting,  considerable  skill  is  necessary  that  it  may 
be  properly  presented  in  the  show  ring.  No  breed  of  dogs 
owes  more  to  condition  for  show  purposes  than  the  York- 
shire; and  a  dog  of  this  variety  exhibited  in  bad  order,  or 
unskillfully  brushed,  when  presented  to  the  judge,  has  a 
good  chance  of  being  beaten  by  an  inferior  dog  in  good 
hands.  Where  they  are  kept  exclusively  for  the  house,  of 
course  less  care  is  required,  but  the  coat  should  be  kept  free 
and  well  brushed  at  all  times. 

It  is  quite  an  undertaking  to  breed  a  Yorkshire  combin- 
ing the  proper  color,  texture  of  coat,  and  correct  Terrier 
type;  and  no  amount  of  care  or  attention  on  the  part  of  the 
owner  can  turn  a  badly  bred,  ill-formed  specimen  into  a 
good  one.  Owing  to  the  fact  that  the  female,  like  that  of 
other  animals,  is  quite  as  important  an  element  in  breeding 
as  the  male,  it  is  necessary  to  be  as  careful  in  selecting  the 
dam  as  the  sire.  A  faulty  specimen  of  either  sex  should 
be  avoided  for  breeding  purposes.  The  theory  some  people 
hold,  that  the  breeding  of  a  bitch  possessing  certain  faults 


THE   YORKSHIEE   TERRIER.  449 

to  a,  dog  that  is  less  faulty  where  the  bitch  fails,  but  pos- 
sesses opposite  ones,  is  likely  to  result  in  the  production  of 
a  litter  of  world-beaters,  is  simply  but  quite  forcibly 
answered  by  the  remark  of  one  of  our  oldest  breeders  and 
judges,  who,  in  discussing  the  point  at  one  of  our  shows, 
said:  "I  never  yet  discovered  that  two  wrongs  would 
make  one  right."  In  breeding  these  dogs,  experienced 
advice  should  be  sought,  for  injudicious  mating  is  likely  to 
cause  the  ultimate  destruction  of  type;  and  it  is  impossible 
for  the  breeder  to  bestow  too  much  attention  in  this  direc- 
tion. 

A  good-looking,  well-bred  dog  is  more  likely  to  produce 
stock  resembling  itself  than  a  good-looking  one  of  "  un- 
known," or  even  limited,  pedigree;  and  by  patient  care  and 
attention  intelligent  breeders  have  succeeded  in  eliminating 
faults  and  developing  desired  qualities  in  all  breeds.  The 
result  of  the  most  approved  mating  will  not  always  prove 
satisfactory  to  the  breeder;  for,  as  Mr.  Wilkinson  says, 
' '  no  matter  how  well  bred,  there  will  always  be  good,  bad, 
and  indifferent,  and  more  by  far  of  the  last;"  but  there  is 
no  doubt  that  the  only  foundation  for  success  and  for 
obtaining  good  ones — whether  it  be  few  or  many — lies  in 
the  most  careful  attention  to  mating.  These  remarks  are 
not  intended  for  those  who,  by  extended  experience,  are 
perfectly  competent  to  manage  affairs  of  this  kind  skill- 
fully; but  to  those  who  have  not  had  experience  in  such 
matters  it  is  important  to  point  out  the  necessity  of  inform- 
ing themselves  as  to  the  standard  type,  and  of  adhering 
rigidly  to  it. 

It  is  doubtful  if  any  attempt  to  establish  large  breeding 
kennels  of  Yorkshire  Terriers  would  prove  successful;  for 
while  there  is,  and  always  has  been,  a  steady  demand  for 
first-class  specimens,  yet,  owing  to  their  peculiar  and  regu- 
lar care,  it  would  be  a  good  day' s  work  for  any  person,  no 
matter  how  competent,  to  keep  such  a  number  of  specimens 
constantly  in  show  condition  as  would  be  required  to 
maintain  a  reputation  of  the  kennel  necessary  to  its  ulti- 
mate financial  success.  It  is  a  matter  of  quality,  not  quan- 

29 


430  THE   AMERICAN   BOOK   OF   THE   DOG. 

tity,  that  tells  in  this  respect;  and  the  aggregate  amount 
possible  to  be  realized  from  the  business  of  a  large  kennel 
would  hardly  be  commensurate  to  the  cost  of  its  mainte- 
nance. The  dealer  may,  and  in  some  cases  probably  does, 
conduct  a  profitable  business,  derived  from  the  efforts  of 
small  breeders;  and  there  is  no  doubt  that  those  who  engage 
in  breeding  to  a  reasonable  extent — combining  business 
with  pleasure — will  be  rewarded  with  success  in  proportion 
to  their  efforts. 

The  following  detailed  description  and  valuation  of  the 
principal  points  or  characteristics  of  the  breed  is  from  the 
standard  prepared  and  established  by  the  Yorkshire  Ter- 
rier Club  of  England. 

STANDARD   AND   POINTS   OF   JUDGING  THE   YORKSHIRE 
TERRIER. 

Value.  Value. 

Quantity  and  color  of  hair  on  back.  25    Ears 5 

Quality  of  coat 15    Legs  and  feet 5 

Tan 15    Body  and  general  appearance 10 

Head 10    Tail 5 

Eyes 5 

Mouth 5           Total 100 

General  appearance. — This  should  be  of  a  long-coated 
pet  dog,  the  coat  hanging  quite  straight  and  evenly  down 
each  side,  a  parting  extending  from  the  nose  to  the  end  of 
the  tail.  The  animal  should  be  compact  and  neat,  the  car- 
riage being  very  "sprightly,"  bearing  an  important  air. 
Although  the  frame  is  hidden  beneath  a  mantle  of  hair,  the 
general  outline  should  be  such  as  to  suggest  the  existence 
of  a  vigorous  and  well-proportioned  body. 

Head. — This  should  be  rather  small  and  flat,  not  too 
prominent  or  round  in  skull,  rather  broad  at  the  muzzle, 
with  a  perfectly  black  nose;  the  hair  on  the  muzzle  very 
long,  which  should  be  a  rich,  deep  tan,  not  sooty  or  gray. 
Under  the  chin,  long  hair  about  the  same  color  as  the  center 
of  the  head,  which  should  be  a  bright  golden  tan,  and  not 
on  any  account  intermingled  with  dark  or  sooty  hairs. 
Hair  on  the  sides  of  the  head  should  be  very  long,  and  a 
few  shades  deeper  than  the  center  of  the  head,  especially 
about  the  ear-roots. 


THE   YORKSHIRE  TERRIER.  451 

The  eyes  should  be  of  medium  size,  dark  in  color,  having 
a  sharp,  intelligent  expression,  and  placed  so  as  to  look 
directly  forward,  but  should  not  be  prominent.  The  edges 
of  the  eyelids  should  also  be  of  a  darker  color. 

Ears  cut  or  uncut.  If  cut,  quite  erect;  uncut,  small, 
Y-shaped,  and  carried  semi-erect.  Covered  with  short  hair. 
Color  to  be  a  deep,  dark  tan. 

The  mouth  should  be  good  and  even;  teeth  as  sound  as 
possible.  A  dog  having  lost  a  tooth  or  two  through  acci- 
dent not  the  least  objectionable,  providing  the  jaws  are 
even. 

The  body  should  be  very  compact,  with  a  good  loin,  and 
level  on  top  of  the  back. 

Coat. — The  hair  as  long  and  straight  as  possible  (not 
wavy),  which  should  be  flossy,  not  woolly.  It  should 
extend  from  the  back  of  the  head  to  the  root  of  tail.  Color 
a  bright  steel-blue,  and  on  no  account  intermingled  with 
fawn,  light,  or  dark  hairs. 

Legs  quite  straight,  of  a  bright,  golden-tan  color,  and 
well  covered  with  hair,  a  few  shades  lighter  at  the  ends  than 
at  the  roots. 

Feet  as  round  as  possible;  toe-nails  black. 

Weight  divided  into  two  classes,  viz. ,  under  five  pounds 
and  over  five  pounds,  but  not  to  exceed  twelve  pounds. 

Referring  to  this  standard,  Mr.  Wilkinson  says  : 

Personally,  I  confess  a  weakness  for  color  over  quantity  of  coat,  as  I  con- 
tend it  is  quite  possible  to  produce  a  vast  quantity  of  coat  on  a  specimen  other- 
wise indifferent.*  From  boyhood,  I  remember  my  father  (now  deceased)  being 
a  great  breeder  and  fancier  of  Yorkshire  Terriers,  and  he  could  not  tolerate  a 
dog  without  the  rich,  golden  tan,  and  I  certainly  inherit  his  weakness,  and 
think  the  points  most  difficult  to  o'btain  should  be  thought  most  highly  of 
when  they  are  produced.  I  am  rather  afraid  that,  of  late  years,  too  much 
thought  has  been  given  to  length  of  coat  in  preference  to  good  color  and  mod- 
erate coat  combined.  A  lot  of  hair  with  dog  attached  does  not  constitute  a 
perfect  Yorkshire  Terrier. 

Mr.  Bootman  also  says  with  relation  to  this  point : 

Richness  of  tan  on  head  and  legs  should,  to  my  mind,  be  more  cultivated 
than  at  present.  This  property  was  highly  prized  by  the  old  breeders.  The 
craze  for  length  of  coat  has  in  a  great  measure  been  the  means  of  reducing  the 
quality  of  tan. 


452  THE  AMERICAN    BOOK   OF  THE   DOG. 

In  connection  with  the  subject  of  standard,  should  be 
mentioned  some  of  the  most  common  faults  noticed  in  speci- 
mens of  the  breed  exhibited  at  our  shows.  The  most  im- 
portant of  these  are  :  Too  round  skull  (apple-head),  pointed 
muzzle ;  silver-colored  body  instead  of  blue;  fawn-colored 
head  and  legs  instead  of  tan;  mixed-coated  body  (made  of 
two  or  more  colors);  curly  or  wavy  coat;  lack  of  anima- 
tion in  expression;  natural  drop  instead  of  semi-erect  ears; 
roached  back;  light  or  "dudley"  nose;  uneven  mouth; 
long  hair  on  ears;  hind  legs  heavily  coated  below  hocks; 
too  prominent  eyes,  and  crocked  front  legs.  All  these,  and 
some  other  faults,  should  be  guarded  against  in  breeding  or 
selecting  Yorkshire  Terriers ;  but  to  find  a  specimen  technic- 
ally up  to  the  established  standard  is  a  practical  impossi- 
bility. 

As  most  of  the  future  prize  and  other  good  dogs  of  this 
breed,  in  America,  may  reasonably  be  expected  to  spring — 
at  least  in  part — from  the  best-known  winners  which 
have  been  exhibited  at  our  shows,  a  brief  summary  of  the 
principal  first-prize  winners  of  late  years  is  here  given,  as 
far  as  we  are  familiar  with  them,  and  most  of  which  are 
well  known  to  the  fancy.  They  are  as  follows  : 

Champion  Bradford  Harry,  Bradford  Lill,  Bradford 
Leah,  and  Lancashire  Ben ;  Campbell's  Prince,  Dolly, 
Spink,  Sir  Colin,  and  Dandy;  North  Fields  Kennels'  Harry, 
Fishpool  Gem,  Toon's  Royal,  Daisy,  Little  Sister,  Jenny, 
and  Floss  ;  Senn's  Teddy  and  Jessie  ;  Cassidy' s  Ben,  Prince, 
and  Jersey  Lily;  Clancy's  Bill  and  Ben;  Carleton's 
Armande  and  Bravo ;  Silvey's  Whiskers  and  Leo ;  Bor- 
rowscale's  Dandy  ;  Daly's  Daisy  ;  Sullivan's  Lucy  ;  Engel- 
hart's  Paddy;  Dole's  Una;  Healy's  Ebor ;  Row's  Paddy ; 
Kramer's  Midge;  Cabot's  Lancashire  Star;  Harrison's 
Mossey;  Meadowthorpe.  Fairy,  Jessie,  Damificare,  Actor, 
and  Spider. 

The  following  persons  also  own  and  exhibit  good  York- 
shires: 

John  F.  Campbell,  Custom  House,  Montreal,  Canada; 
North  Fields  Yorkshire  Kennels,  Salem,  Mass.;  P.  H. 


THE   YORKSHIRE   TERRIER.  453 

Coombs,  1  Exchange  Block,  Bangor,  Maine;  Mrs.  J.  S. 
Bubrer,  3263  Groveland  avenue,  Chicago,  111. ;  J.  C.  Cullen, 
Pittsfield,  Mass. ;  Dr.  George  W.  Dixon,  406  Main  street, 
Worcester,  Mass. ;  R.  P.  H.  Durkee,  10  Ashland  Block, 
Chicago,  111.;  E.  E.  Dodge,  Pittsfield,  Mass. ;  Michael  Gough- 
erty,  71  Goffe  street,  New  Haven,  Conn. ;  John  J.  Hooley, 
Troy,  N.  Y.  j  John  Hackett,  23  Barton  street,  Hamilton,  On- 
tario; John  L.  Lincoln,  Jr.,  2  and 4  Wabash avenue,  Chicago, 
111.;  R.  S.  F.  Montgomery,  217  South  Fourteenth  street, 
Omaha,  Neb.;  W.  R.  Mack,  Rochester,  N.  Y.;  W.  D. 
Reid,  Elmira,  N.  Y.;  E.  J.  Lillie,  53-59  Water  street, 
Cleveland,  Ohio;  Mrs.  E.  A.  Lincoln,  14  Parker  street, 
New  Bedford,  Mass. ;  J.  H.  Staats,  3  and  4  Hodge  Opera 
House,  Lockport,  N.  Y.;  R.  J.  McLaughlin,  1762  Euclid 
avenue,  Cleveland,  Ohio;  F.  G.  Anthony,  New  Haven, 
Conn.;  E.  G.  Caiieton,  38  Court  Square,  Boston,  Mass.; 
Henry  Smith,  Buffalo,  N.  Y. ;  John  McKee,  323  Marcey 
avenue,  Brooklyn,  N.  Y.;  Mrs.  L.  D.  Cutler,  262  West 
Thirty-fourth  street,  New  York  City;  George  Bell,  Walker 
House,  Toronto,  Canada;  Fred  Senn,  278  West  Eleventh 
street,  New  York  City;  Peter  Cassidy,  135  Varick  street, 
New  York  City;  Bernard  Cummings,  340  West  Twenty- 
fifth  street,  New  York  City;  Mrs.  W.  D.  Stewart,  Maiden, 
Mass.;  George  McDonnelly,  Seventy-seventh  street,  South 
Boston,  Mass.;  W.  A.  Pinkerton,  191  Fifth  avenue,  Chi- 
cago, 111. ;  Meadowthorpe  Kennels,  Lexington,  Ky. ;  J. 
Maddox,  4  West  Sixty-sixth  street,  New  York  City;  Will- 
iam A.  Bragg,  21  Park  street,  Bangor,  Maine,  and  Mrs.  A. 
H.  Manierre,  Saranac  Lake,  N.  Y. 

The  dogs  selected  by  the  Editor  for  illustration  in  con- 
nection with  this  chapter  are  certainly  among  the  best  ever 
seen  in  this  country,  and  are  distinguished  as  first-prize 
winners  at  some  of  the  principal  shows  in  the  north  of 
England,  where  the  breed  originated,  and  where  the  best 
specimens  in  the  world  meet  in  competition.  They  are  of 
especial  interest  in  connection  with  this  work,  as  being 
prominent  prize-winners  at  American  shows. 

Bradford  Harry  is  at  present  (1890)  the  only  champion 


454  THE   AMERICAN   BOOK   OF   THE   DOG. 

of  record  of  his  breed  in  America.  He  was  first  exhibited 
here  in  1888,  and  has  appeared  in  Boston,  New  York,  Troy, 
Lynn,  Buffalo,  and  New  Bedford,  where  he  won  nine  first 
prizes  in  succession ;  and,  in  addition,  he  has  made  the 
remarkable  record  of  which  few  dogs  of  any  breed  can 
boast,  viz.,  that  of  winning  every  special  prize  for  which  a 
Yorkshire  Terrier  was  eligible  to  compete  at  the  §hows  where 
he  has  appeared.  In  one  show  alone  he  won  the  specials 
for  "best  Yorkshire  Terrier,"  "best  rough-coated  Terrier 
—any  breed,"  and  "  smallest  dog  in  the  show."  His  pedi- 
gree is  as  follows:  Sire,  Crawshaw's  Bruce,  dam,  Beal's 
Lady;  Bruce  by  Hodsdon's  Sandy-Patterson's  Minnie; 
Sandy  by  Bateman's  Sand y- Venus ;  Bateman's  Sandy  by 
Spring;  Venus  by  Music;  Spring  by  Huddersfield  Ben;  Beal'  s 
Lady  by  Tyler-Lady ;  Tyler  by  Huddersfield  Ben-Bol- 
ton's  Kitty;  Kitty  by  Bolton's  Wonder. 

The  Yorkshire  Terrier  Mozart,  bred  and  owned  by 
Mr.  James  Alderson,  of  Leeds,  England,  won  for  the  breed 
the  name  of  Yorkshire  Terrier  in  1874  or  1875.  He  lived 
to  the  age  of  fourteen  years  and  ten  months,  and  won 
during  his  show  career  164  prizes,  including  thirty-six 
cups,  according  to  Mr.  Bootman's  history.  Mozart  was 
by  Huddersfield  Ben,  out  of  Alderson' s  Frisk,  both  of 
which  run  directly  back  to  the  original  Old  Crab,  Kitty, 
and  Whittam  bitch.  Huddersfield  Ben  was  the  best 
stud  dog  of  his  breed  during  his  life-time,  and  one  of  the 
most  remarkable  dogs  of  any  pet  breed  that  ever  lived;  and 
most  of  the  show  specimens  of  the  present  day  have  one  or 
more  crosses  of  his  blood  in  their  pedigree. 

Before  leaving  this  engaging  breed,  we  would  suggest  to 
the  managers  of  shows  that  they  hardly  do  justice  to  its 
advancement  and  improvement  when,  in  arranging  pre- 
mium lists,  only  one  class  is  provided  for  dogs  and  bitches, 
and  frequently  without  regard  to  weight.  It  can  hardly 
be  expected  of  breeders  and  fanciers  to  bear  the  necessary  ex- 
penses consequent  to  a  four-days  show — often  being  obliged 
to  ship  their  dogs  long  distances  for  the  purpose — to  make 
full  entries,  when  classes  are  not  as  liberal  as  for  other 


THE   YORKSHIRE  TERRIER. 


455 


prominent  breeds;  and  we  do  not  hesitate  to  say  that  it 
would  benefit  the  show,  as  well  as  the  exhibitor,  if  man- 
agers would  divide  the  classes  by  weight  (under  five 
pounds  and  over  five  pounds,  as  established  by  standard), 
and  also  by  sex;  but  we  must  condemn  the  practice  of 
providing  puppy  classes,  if  for  no  other  reason  than  the 
liability  of  the  puppies  contracting  distemper,  and  thus 
serving  as  agents  through  which  it  may  be  distributed  pro- 
miscuously. Furthermore,  the  Yorkshire  Terrier  does  not 
mature  in  coat  and  color  until  three  to  four  years  old,  and  it 
must  be  obvious  to  all  that  a  first-prize  puppy  may  be 
thoroughly  unfit  for  show  when  matured;  and  the  honor  of 
winning  such  a  prize  can  therefore  be  of  but  little  practical 
benefit  to  the  owner. 


THE  AIREDALE  TERRIER. 


BY  F.  H.  F.  MERCER. 


IT  requires  no  slight  stretching  of  the  term  to  include  this 
giant  in  the  same  category  with  the  midgets  of  his 
genus.  It  seems  unnatural  to  call  a  dog  standing 
higher  at  the  shoulder  than  many  Foxhounds,  and  weigh- 
ing fifty  to  sixty  pounds,  by  the  same  generic  title  as  the 
three-pound  Black  and  Tan,  or  the  sprightly  Fox  Terrier. 
Yet,  though  he  cannot  "go  to  earth,"  the  Airedale  is  an 
inveterate  verminer;  and  if  we  call  him  not  a  Terrier,  how 
else  can  he  be  known  \ 

Hugh  Dalziel  ( ' '  Corsincon  " )  claims  the  distinction  of 
having  christened  this  rough-and-ready  tyke  with  the 
pretty  name  he  bears.  In  the  earlier  dog  shows  of  the 
northern  counties  of  England,  where  specimens  first  ap- 
peared, they  were  scheduled  as  "  Broken-haired  or  Work- 
ing Terriers,"  or  as  "Waterside  Terriers,"  by  which  latter 
name  they  were  known  at  home. 

"I  suggested,"  writes  Mr.  Dalziel,  "that  the  name 
Bingley  Terrier  would  be  a  more  distinctive  cognomen,  and 
applicable,  inasmuch  as  Bingley  seemed  to  me  to  be  the 
center  around  which  this  Terrier  was  to  be  met  with  in  the 
greatest  numbers.  Several  of  my  correspondents,  who  were 
breeders  and  exhibitors,  suggested  to  me  that  Airedale 
better  represented  the  home  of  this  Terrier.  This  I  adopted, 
and  the  name  Airedale  Terrier  has  attached  to  the  breed 
ever  since." 

My  information,  it  may  be  well  to  mention,  derived  from 
a  Yorkshireman  who  has  had  to  do  with  these  Terriers  all 
his  life  (he  is  now  upward  of  fifty),  fully  bears  out  what 
Mr.  Dalziel  has  written. 

As  the  Airedale  was  bred  by  the  Yorkshiremen  simply 

(457) 


458 


THE  AMEEICAN  BOOK   OF  THE  DOG. 


with  a  view  to  getting  a  rough-arid-ready  dog,  useful  both 
as  a  watch-dog  and  by  riverside  and  moor,  naturally  little  or 
no  attention  was  paid  to  "scientific"  breeding;  a  useful 
dog  was  bred  to  a  clever  bitch,  and  for  years  no  records 
were  kept  of  any  kind,  consequently  it  is  impossible  to 
trace  the.  origin  of  the  variety. 

I  am  inclined  to  the  belief  that  there  is  a  strong  dash  of 
the  Otter  Hound  in  their  composition,  backed,  perhaps, 


P 

L 


i 


AIREDALE   TERRIER— WEAVER. 
Owned  by  Clumber  Kennel  (  F.  H.  F.  Mercer),   Ottawa,   Canada. 


with  some  Bedlington,  Scotch,  and  Irish  Terrier  blood.  I 
know,  too,  that  a  dash  of  the  Bull  Terrier  is  frequently 
introduced  to  get  additional  courage. 

From  my  small  experience  of  the  Airedale,  I  have  found 
that  they  possess  the  highest  courage;  and  my  mentor  in 
Airedale  matters  tells  me  "they  will  lick  more  Bull  Ter- 
riers than  Bull  Terriers  lick  them."  Indeed,  only  the 
'other  day,  I  received  a  letter  from  him  saying  that  the  dam 


THE  AIREDALE   TERRIER.  459 

of  Weaver,  the  subject  of  the  illustration,  when  suckling  a 
litter  of  two-week-old  puppies,  fought  a  Bull  and  Terrier 
bitch  for  three-quarters  of  an  hour.  The  Bull  had  the 
upper  hand  for  the  first  thirty  minutes,  but  then  Floss,  the 
Airedale,  set  to  and  killed  her.  His  men  told  him  that 
she  wagged  her  tail  all  the  time,  and  never  made  a  sound, 
though  receiving  frightful  punishment.  The  Bull  and 
Terrier  weighed  half  as  much  again  as  she  did. 

Stonehenge  gives  the  breed  a  very  bad  name,  but  I  can 
not  help  thinking  that  the  specimens  he  had  to  do  with 
were  not  typical — in  disposition,  at  least. 

An  Airedale  is  not  a  pretty  dog — no  one  can  accuse  him 
of  being  beautiful;  but  he  is  such  a  rough-and-ready  look- 
ing customer,  with  such  a  weird  head  and  face,-  and  such 
human-looking  eyes,  that  one  can  not  help  liking  him.  I 
have  heard  people  insist  that  the  Airedale  had  monkey 
blood,  as  he  looks  more  like  ' c  our  ancestor ' '  than  a  dog, 
and  undoubtedly  there  is  a  resemblance. 

When  my  first  Airedale  arrived  by  express,  the  box  in 
which  he  was  delivered,  during  my  absence  from  home,  was 
carefully  deposited  in  the  kennel-yard.  On  my  return,  I 
was  met  at  the  door  by  the  friend  who  "keeps  house" 
with  me,  and  was  told  excitedly  that  an  "awful-looking 
brute  had  come,  and  that  he  had  left  it  in  the  box,  being 
afraid  to  take  it  out."  I  went  into  the  kennel-yard, 
and  there  saw  this  terror-inspiring  creature,  whom  I  at 
once  pronounced  to  be  the  champion  ugly  dog  of  Can- 
ada. I  let  him  out,  and  he  was  as  affectionate  a  little,  or 
rather  big,  fellow  as  you  could  find  anywhere.  My 
friends  all  ridiculed  and  laughed  at  him  for  the  first 
few  weeks,  but  now  their  feelings  have  changed,  and  I 
am  fairly  besieged  with  applications  for  "one  of  those 
Airedales." 

As  I  am  a  devoted  Spaniel  man,  I  have  not  yet  tested 
Airedales  afield,  but  I  understand  that  they  are  a  most 
invaluable  all-around  dog.  They  can  "run"  a  deer,  a  fox, 
or  a  hare  ;  beat  for  feathered  game,  and  kill  a  rat,  retrieve 
a  duck,  and  "draw"  a  'coon.  They  are  the  least  quarrel- 


460  THE  AMERICAN    BOOK   OF   THE  DOG. 

some  of  dogs;  but  when  once  their  wrath  is  raised,  "look 
out  for  squalls  "  —something  is  going  to  suffer. 

They  are  much  used  by  poachers  in  England,  being  an 
improvement  on  the  " lurchers"  of  olden  days,  and,  more- 
over, less  likely  to  arouse  suspicion  in  the  gamekeepers,  to 
whom  a  lurcher  is  as  a  red  rag  to  a  bull. 

"He's  a  queer  looking  'coon,"  I  overheard  a  visitor  say  of 
an  Airedale  at  a  show,  ' '  but  he  looks  like  a  dandy  for  work ;' ' 
and  I  think  this  breed  exemplifies  the  adage,  "Handsome  is 
as  handsome  does." 

They  are  grand  watch-dogs  and  excellent  house-dogs, 
kind  and  affectionate  with  children,  and  most  intelligent. 
I  am  afraid,  however,  that  they  will  never  be  popular,  looks 
being  so  much  against  them.  There  are  but  few  of  them  in 
the  country,  and  very,  very  few  good  ones. 

The  following  extract  from  a  letter  lately  received  from 
an  old  friend  will  be  of  interest  in  this  connection: 

I  will  try  and  write  you  what  I  know  of  Airedales.  I  think  the  breed 
originated  from  a  cross  between  the  Otter  Hound  and  the  Bull  Terrier.  There 
used  to  be  a  pack  of  Otter  Hounds  kept  always  at  Bingley,  England.  I  have 
often  seen  them  hunting  on  the  River  Aire,  which  runs  through  Airedale; 
hence  the  name  of  the  dog,  I  suppose.  It  is  good  sport  to  take  three  or  four  of 
these  Terriers  down  the  banks  of  a  river  hunting  rats.  They  will  find  the  cats 
in  their  holes,  and  stand  back.  Then  you  put  in  the  ferret,  the  rat  will  jump 
into  the  water,  and  the  dogs  will  watch  for  nis  appearance,  swim  after  and 
catch  him,  nine  times  out  of  ten.  I  think  they  and  the  Irish  Terriers  know 
more  than  all  the  other  breeds  of  Terriers  combined. 

I  think  the  breed  was  first  known  about  Salt  Aire  and  Shipley  Glen,  Bayl- 
don,  Bingley,  and  around  Keighley.  When  I  wished  to  get  one,  I  never  used  to 
go  to  any  other  place  to  look  for  it;  and  all  the  really  good  ones  were  well  known. 
I  never  cared  to  own  any  but  the  best  I  could  get,  and  £1  10s.  to  £2  was 
then  considered  a  high  price.  You  could  get  the  best  to  be  had  for  that 
amount,  if  the  owner  would  sell  at  all. 

I  owned  three — Smuggler,  Crack,  and  Ben— and  they  were  all  as  good  dogs 
as  I  ever  saw.  Ben  was  the  best  and  largest  of  the  three.  He  would  prob- 
ably weigh  some  forty  to  forty -five  pounds  when  in  good  condition.  They 
breed  them  now  much  larger  than  they  did  then.  When  I  had  them,  I  was 
about  eighteen  or  twenty  years  old — now  thirty  years  ago  and  over.  .  .  . 

Crack  was  first  owned  by  a  Leeds  gentleman,  and  weighed  not  more  than 
thirty  five  pounds  when  in  fair  condition.  He  was  matched  and  fought  in  the 
pit,  in  Leeds,  with  a  Bull  Terrier,  weight  thirty-three  and  one-half  pounds. 
Crack  was  to  come  any  weight;  Bull  Terrier  was  to  be  thirty-two  pounds  only, 
but  they  let  him  in  at  above  weight.  I  saw  the  fight,  and  bought  Crack  for 


THE   AIREDALE   TERRIER.  461 

£2 10s.  as  soon  as  it  was  over.  Crack  outfought  him,  and  killed  him  dead  in 
forty-eight  minutes,  and  fought  fully  as  quiet  as  the  Bull  Terrier.  He  was 
better  grit,  for  if  the  Bull  Terrier  could,  he  would  have  jumped  the  pit,  I 
think;  but  Crack  pinned  him  and  held  him  until  he  finished  him.  Either  of  the 
other  two,  Ben  or  Smuggler,  would  fight  just  as  keen.  The  Airedale  fights  much 
faster  than  the  Bull  Terrier,  and  their  thick  hair  seems  to  sicken  the  dogs  they 
fight  with.  They  are  the  best  watch-dogs  I  know  of,  and  will  stand  by  you  in 
a  tight  place.  The  dog  Charlie,  that  I  have  now  in  Maine,  sleeps  in  my  bed- 
room on  a  mat  at  the  door,  and  no  foot  can  enter  the  yard  but  he  knows  it.  No 
one  can  cross  that  threshold  at  night  unless  he  sees  fit  to  allow  it.  He  is  three 
years  old  now,  aud  I  think  is  a  perfect  type  of  the  breed.  He  is  surely  game, 
and  will  hunt  rabbits  and  rats  every  minute  he  can  get.  I  think  if  he  was 
properly  trained  that  few  dogs  would  beat  him.  He  knows  no  one  but  his 
master,  and  completely  ignores  everyone  else.  .  .  . 

You  can  teach  the  Airedale  Terrrier  anything.  When  I  was  in 
Europe  the  last  time,  I  saw  one  that  I  would  have  brought  over  if  he 
could  have  been  bought;  but  it  was  of  no  use,  for  his  owner  said  £50  would 
not  take  him  to  America.  I  think  he  would  weigh  fully  fifty-five  to  sixty 
pounds,  and  knew  about  as  much  as  you  would  think  a  dog  could  be  taught. 
His  owner  told  me  he  would  dive  after  a  rat  like  an  otter.  He  could  make  him 
stop  anywhere,  and  he  said  he  thought  he  would  stop  there  until  dead,  or 
hunger  compelled  him  to  leave.  He  could  send  him  home  with  a  note  and  tell 
him  to  bring  a  reply  back,  and  he  would  do  it;  and  if  he  said  "No  reply,"  dog 
would  take  note  and  come  right  back;  but  if  he  said  "Answer  back,"  he 
would  bring  it,  or  stop  until  they  gave  him  a  piece  of  paper.  He  would  bring 
that,  or  whatever  they  gave  him  that  he  could  carry,  and  he  would  not  lose  it. 
He, was  a  perfect  pet  with  children,  and  a  regular  guardian  over  his  three-year- 
old  little  boy  when  sent  out  with  the  child.  He  reminded  me  so  much  of  my 
Old  Ben,  I  would  have  paid  well  for  him,  but  the  owner  said:  "No,  my  dog 
is  one  of  my  family,  and  will  stay  with  us  as  long  as  he  lives." 

Crack,  the  Airedale  I  alluded  to  before,  I  have  seen  point  partridges  and 
pheasants  as  stiff  as  any  old  Pointer;  then  he  would  take  a  look  around  for 
me,  as  much  as  to  say,  "  I  have  them  here  for  you;"  and  if  one  was  wounded 
and  run  on  the  ground,  he  would  trail  it  and  bring  it  to  you  as  sure  as  it 
dropped,  and  would  not  injure  it.  If  I  wounded  a  hare,  or  rabbit,  he  would 
surely  kill  it,  then  bring  it  in;  but  a  bird  he  would  bring  alive  every  time. 

He  was  brought  up  on  the  estate  of  Sir  Busfield  Ferrand,  of  Bingley — 
a  thorough  spoitsman,  if  ever  one  lived — and  Crack  had  to  be  sent  off,  as  he 
would  not  make  friends  with  the  other  dogs;  he  was  jealous.  He  was  nearly 
six  years  old  when  he  came  into  my  possession.  I  kept  him  some  three  years, 
and  my  brother-in-law  kept  him  until  his  death.  He  was  said  to  be  about  four- 
teen years  old  when  he  died,  and  up  to  about  six  months  of  his  death  was  quite 
lively.  After  that  he  iost  the  use  of  his  hind  quarters,  partially,  and  his  sight 
failed  him.  Smuggler  was  also  a  grand  dog,  but  not  so  game  as  Ben  or 
Crack. 

Now  I  will  tell  you  a  true  story  about  another  Airedale  that  my  father 
owned,  as  long  ago  as  I  can  recollect  anything.  His  name  was  Nelson.  My 


462  THE    AMERICAN   BOOK    OF   THE   DOG. 

father  was  on  horseback,  and  had  to  cross  Spring  Mill  Brook — some  fifteen  to 
twenty  feet  across,  usually  about  a  foot  deep.  Father  used  to  cross  it  for  a 
short  cut  home.  One  night  his  horse  stumbled,  fell,  and  threw  him,  his  back 
striking  a  rock.  He  was  badly  hurt,  and  could  not  stand.  The  horse  stood 
waiting  for  him,  but  he  could  not  get  up;  said  he  had  lost  the  use  of  his  lower 
parts.  The  dog  tried  all  he  could  to  lift  him,  but  could  not.  Then  he  went  to 
a  mill  some  two  hundred  yards  or  more  away,  brought  the  night  watchman, 
and  saved  my  father's  life.  He  was  in  the  cold  water  nearly  an  hour,  and  had 
all  he  could  do  to  raise  himself  on  his  hands  to  keep  his  head  above  water. 

The  following  is  the  standard  for  judging  Airedale  Ter- 
riers : 

Value.  Value. 

Head 20    Legs  and  feet 15 

Ears 8    Coat  and  color 20 

Neck,  shoulders,  and  chest 12    Weight 5 

Back  and  loin 15 

Hind  quarters  and  stern 5  Total 100 

Head. — Skull  flat  and  moderately  narrow,  tapering 
slightly  to  the  eyes,  and  free  from  wrinkle  ;  no  perceptible 
stop  or  indentation  between  the  skull  and  the  muzzle,  ex- 
cept in  the  profile.  Jaw  long  and  powerful,  free  from  flews, 
rather  deep,  and  moderately  square  at  end.  Nose  black, 
and  nostrils  large. 

Mouth. — Level ;  teeth  large  and  sound. 

Eyes. — Small,  bright,  and  dark  in  color,  with  Terrier 
expression. 

Ears. — Y-shaped,  moderate  in  size  and  thickness;  car- 
ried forward,  as  in  the  case  of  the  Fox  Terrier,  and  free 
from  long,  silky  hair. 

Neck. — Fair  length,  gradually  widening  to  the  shoulders, 
well  carried,  and  free  from  throatiness. 

Shoulders. — Fine,  long,  and  sloping  moderately  into  the 
back. 

Chest. — Should  be  deep  and  muscular,  but  neither  full 
nor  wide. 

Back  and  loin. — The  back  should  be  short,  straight, 
and  strong ;  the  ribs  well  sprung  and  rounded;  the  loin 
broad  and  powerful,  and  well  ribbed  up. 

Hind  quarters. — Strong  and  powerful,  thick  through 
the  hams  ;  good  muscular  second  thighs,  and  stifles  fairly 
bent.  No  tendency  to  "  cow-hocks." 


THE   AIREDALE  TERRIER.  463 

Stern. — The  tail  should  be  stout,  and  docked;  set  on 
rather  high,  but  not  raised  to  a  right-angle  with  .the  back. 

Legs  and  feet.— The  legs  should  be  straight,  and  well 
furnished  with  bone;  the  feet  round  and  close,  with  a  thick 
sole. 

Coat. — Rough,  or  broken,  and  dense  and  wiry  in  texture ; 
free  from  lock  or  curl. 

Color. — Dark  grizzle  back,  from  occiput  to  end  of  tail, 
extending  also  down  the  sides  of  the  body,  with  dark  mark- 
ings on  the  side  of  the  skull ;  rest  of  body  a  good  tan, 
darker  on  ears  than  elsewhere. 

Weight. — Dogs,  forty  to  forty-five  pounds  ;  bitches, 
thirty-five  to  forty  pounds. 

Disqualifications. — A  Dudley  nose;  white  on  throat,  face, 
or  feet  (white  on  any  other  part  of  the  body  objectionable); 
a  thoroughly  bad  mouth — i.  e.,  minus  a  number  of  teeth,  and 
others  cankered;  also  undershot;  total  blindness  (partial 
blindness  objectionable).  I  may  say,  parenthetically,  that 
Airedales  of  the  best  breeding  sometimes  weigh  as  much  as 
sixty  pounds. 


THE  SCOTTISH  TEKRIER. 

BY  JOHN  H.  NAYLOR. 

ffiN  no  other  breed  of  Terriers  have  so  many  different 

types  been  shown  as  in  the  one  commonly  called  the 

(11     Scotch  Terrier.     Everything  in  the  shape  of  a  Terrier 

is  called  Scotch  by  persons  not  versed  in  the  proper  types. 

Until  about  ten  years  ago,  the  strain  no.w  recognized 
as  the  Scottish  Terrier  was  scarcely  known  except  by 
persons  directly  in  contact  with  them — the  breed  being  in 
the  hands  of  gamekeepers  and  tod-hunters  (fox-hunters) 
who  lived  in  remote  parts  of  the  Scottish  Highlands,  which 
were  rarely  visited  by  the  outside  public,  and  where  bench 
shows  were  unknown.  These  Terriers  were  hunted  in 
packs,  and  used  by  their  owners  in  destroying  foxes,  ot- 
ters, badgers,  and  other  vermin  which  infested  the  cairns 
or  rocks  of  that  part  of  Scotland.  The  hunters  were  paid 
for  all  vermin  destroyed;  and  as  the  livelihood  of  these  men 
mainly  depended  on  the  amount  of  vermin  destroyed,  great 
care  was  taken  in  mating  to  dogs  which  were  noted  for 
their  hunting  qualities  and  gameness. 

Written  pedigrees  were  unknown  at  this  time,  yet  great 
care  was  taken  to  mate  for  working  qualities.  The  owners 
were,  in  many  instances,  opposed  to  going  outside  their, 
own  pack  for  new  blood,  for  fear  of  introducing  some  infe- 
rior qualities  in  their  packs.  Special  strains  of  these  dogs 
have  been  kept  in  some  families  for  almost  a  hundred  years 
without  a  cross. 

Several  years  ago  the  correct  Scot  was  very  scarce,  even 
in  their  native  districts,  I  myself  having  had  great  difficulty 
at  one  time  in  finding  suitable  dogs  to  import  for  use  as 
breeders  in  my  own  kennels.  Mine  were  at  that  time  the 
only  specimens  of  pure  Scottish  Terriers  in  America,  and 

3O  C465) 


466  THE   AMERICAN   BOOK    OF   THE   DOG. 

being  desirous  of  keeping  up  my  strains,  I  had  to  traverse 
the  entire  Highlands  in  my  search  for  good  specimens. 

These  grand  old  Scottish;  or  Highland  cairny  Terriers 
are  now  shown  in  great  numbers  at  all  the  principal  shows 
in  Scotland  and  England,  and  many  tine  specimens  may 
often  be  seen  at  our  American  bench  shows;  but  to  the 
general  public,  who  do  not  frequent  shows,  they  are  almost 
as  yet  unknown. 


SCOTTISH    TERRIER— MEADOWTHORPE    DONALD. 
Owned  by  Meadowthorpe  Kennels,   Lexington,   Ky. 

As  above  stated,  written  pedigrees  were  not  kept  by  the 
tod -hunters;  and  even  at  the  present  a  pedigree  of  one  of 
our  most  celebrated  dogs  does  not  run  far  on  paper  until  it 
finishes  with  such  and  such  a  dog,  from  such  and  such  a 
pack,  well  known  as  workmen  in  their  native  country. 

These  Terriers  are  also  named  Die-hards,  a  name  re- 
ported to  have  been  given  them  by  George,  first  Earl  of 
Dumbarton,  who  owned  a  famous  pack  of  them  celebrated 
for  their  gameness.  It  is  said  that  he  afterward  named 
his  favorite  regiment  (the  First  Royal  Scots)  "Dumbar- 
ton's Die-hards,"  in  compliment  to  his  favorite  Terriers, 


THE   SCOTTISH   TERRIER.  467 

and  the  regiment  was  afterward  better  known  by  that 
name  than  by  any  other. 

A  Terrier  resembling  the  Scottish,  or  Die-hard,  has  been 
spoken  of  by  some  writers,  and  introduced  in  some  works 
on  the  dog,  as  the  Aberdeen  Terrier,  but  it  is  easy  for 
anyone  acquainted  with  the  proper  Scot  to  see  at  a  glance 
the  difference  between  it  and  the  true  Scot.  The  Aberdeen 
is  of  very  uncertain  breeding,  and  the  long  feather  or  fringe 
on  his  ear  and  the  soft  hair  on  his  legs  will  always  dis- 
tinguish him  from  the  correct  Scottish  Terrier,  whose  ears 
are  covered  with  a  short,  velvety  coat,  free  from  fringe  at 
the  top  or  sides,  and  whose  legs  are  covered  with  hard,  short 
hair. 

The  carriage  of  ear  in  the  Scottish  Terrier  is  of  two 
kinds,  the  semi-erect  and  the  erect  ear,  either  of  which  is 
correct;  but  a  drop-ear  is  not  correct  in  any  case.  The 
semi-erect  ear  is  now  seldom  met  with,  but  is  considered  by 
many  competent  judges  of  the  breed  as  the  old  style.  My 
old  semi-erect-eared  dog  Glenlyon  is  the  only  one  with  this 
style  of  ear  I  have.  He  is  now  gray  with  years,  being  over 
ten  years  old.  He  was  born  on  the  night  of  the  great  Tay 
bridge  disaster  in  Scotland. 

Sired  by  Fosoum,  out  of  Wasp;  Fosoum  of  the  Kingussie 
pack,  Wasp  by  Botach,  out  of  Fanny.  Botach  from  Lady 
Mengiess'  kennels,  and  Fanny  of  the  old  Chestille-Glen- 
lyon  stock,  once  so  famous  in  the  Scottish  Highlands,  and 
which  are  now  extinct.  Glenlyon  is  said  to  be  the  very 
image  of  Fosoum,  who  had  also  semi-erect  ears;  while 
Wasp,  Botach,  and  Fanny  all  had  erect  ears.  My  Whin- 
stone,  half-brother  to  Glenlyon,  had  erect  ears.  He  has 
been  dead  several  years.  I  had  him  preserved,  and  keep 
him  as  a  specimen  of  the  correct  stock.  Many  others  of  my 
Terriers  are  well  known  to  frequenters  of  American  bench 
shows,  having  carried  off  almost  all  the  prizes  for  many 
years,  with  Tarn  Glen,  Bonnie  Belle,  Heather,  Whinstone, 
Lowrie  Dunbar,  Fanny  Fern,  Glenlyon,  and  others;  and 
last,  but  not  least,  that  old  favorite,  Rosie,  who  has  now 
over  twenty  first  prizes  to  her  credit. 


468  THE   AMERICAN   BOOK    OF   THE   DOG. 

The  Scottish  Terriers,  I  find,  make  good  companions  for 
either  ladies  or  gentlemen;  are  good  watch-dogs,  under  good 
control,  and  are  easily  broken  to  cleanliness  in  the  house. 
They  are  good  on  all  kinds  of  game,  are  easily  broken  to 
ferret  or  gun,  and  some  of  them  have  proved  the  best  of 
retrievers,  either  on  fur  or  feather.  They  take  to  water 
readily,  and  retrieve  a  duck  with  any  other  dog. 

The  following  description  and  value  of  points  for  judg- 
ing is  generally  recognized  on  both  sides  of  the  water: 

Value.  Value. 

Skull 5  Legsandfeet 10 

Muzzle 5  Tail 2>£ 

Eyes 5  Coat 20 

Ears 10  Size 10 

Neck 5  Color 2^ 

Chest 5  General  appearance 10 

Body 10 

Total 100 

STcull  (value  5)  proportionately  long,  slightly  domed, 
rather  wide  at  the  back  and  tapering  gradually  to  the  eyes. 
The  hair  on  skull  should  be  hard  and  short,  about  three - 
fourths  of  an  inch  long,  or  less,  without  any  signs  of  silki- 
ness  or  top-knot.  There  should  be  a  slight  stop  or  drop 
between  the  eyes. 

Muzzle  (value  5)  long  and  powerful,  gradually  tapering 
from  eyes  to  nose,  which  should  always  be  black,  of  good 
size,  and  well  spread;  the  jaws  level,  and  the  teeth  fitting 
correctly.  An  overshot  or  undershot  mouth  should  dis- 
qualify. The  nose  projects  somewhat  over  the  mouth,  giv- 
ing the  impression  of  the  upper  jaw  being  slightly  longer 
than  the  under  jaw. 

Eyes  (value  5)  wide  apart,  medium  size,  dark  brown  or 
hazel  in  color,  well  sunk  in  head,  piercing,  very  bright,  and 
intelligent — looking  from  under  heavy  eyebrows. 

Ears  (value  10)  small,  erect,  or  semi-erect — either  are 
correct— but  never  dropping.  They  should  be  sharp-pointed, 
and  the  hair  should  be  short,  resembling  fur;  should  be  free 
from  fringe  at  top  and  sides,  and  should  not  be  cropped. 

Neck  (value  5)  short,  thick,  and  muscular,  strongly  set  on 
sloping  shoulders. 


THE  SCOTTISH   TERRIER.  469 

Chest  (value  5)  deep;  broad,  in  comparison  to  size  of 
dog,  but  must  not  be  out  of  proportion. 

Body  (value  10)  of  moderate  length;  ribs  flat,  but  well 
ribbed  up;  loin  broad  and  strong,  with  no  tendency  to 
weakness  in  hind  quarters. 

Legs  and  feet  (value  10). — Both  fore  and  hind  legs  should 
be  short,  and  heavy  in  bone;  the  fore  legs  being  straight,  or 
slightly  bent,  well  set  under  body — out  at  elbows  being  a 
serious  blemish.  The  hocks  should  be  well  bent;  thighs 
muscular,  and  the  feet  strong,  small,  round,  and  well 
padded — the  fore  feet  being  larger  than  the  hind  feet, 
and  well  set  down  on  the  ground.  Both  feet  and  legs 
should  be  covered  with  short,  hard  hair;  any  tendency  to 
silkiness  or  feather  on  legs  is  a  serious  fault. 

Tail  (value  2J)  about  seven  inches  in  length,  covered 
with  hard  hair,  and  free  from  feather;  carried  with  a  slight 
bend,  and  often  gaily. 

Coat  (value  20)  should  be  rather  short  (about  two  or  three 
inches),  hard  and  wiry  in  texture,  with  dense  under-coat. 
The  outer- coat  should  be  free  from  any  curl  or  waviness, 
and  very  dense — an  open  coat  being  a  serious  blemish. 

Size  (value  10)  about  fourteen  to  eighteen  pounds  for 
dogs;  twelve  to  seventeen  pounds  for  bitches. 

Color  (value  2-J)  steel  or  iron  gray,  brindle,  black,  red, 
wheaten  yellow,  or  mustard  color  (mustard,  black,  and  red 
not  as  popular).  All  white  specimens  have  occurred,  and 
are  greatly  prized,  but  white  markings,  such  as  fore  feet 
and  chest,  are  objectionable,  and,  if  in  large  quantities, 
should  disqualify. 

General  appearance  (value  10). — The  face  should  have  a 
sharp,  bright,  and  active  expression;  head  carried  well  up. 
The  dog,  owing  to  shortness  of  coat,  appears  to  be  higher 
on  the  legs  than  he  really  is.  Viewed  from  all  points,  he 
should  show  a  nice,  compact  little  Terrier,  possessed  of 
great  strength  and  muscle,  without  any  weak  points  or  light 
bones,  and  without  any  waste  or  want  of  material.  In  fact, 
a  Scottish  Terrier,  though  essentially  a  Terrier,  can  not  be 
put  too  powerfully  together,  and  should  have  that  happy- 


470 


THE   AMERICAN   BOOK    OF   THE   DOG. 


go-lucky  vermin  look  about  him  that  gives  the  impression 
he  is  ready  for  anything  that  comes  along.  He  should  be 
from  nine  to  twelve  inches  in  height,  and  should  have  the 
appearance  of  being  slightly  higher  on  the  hind  legs  than 
on  the  fore  legs. 

FAULTS. 

Muzzle  either  undershot  or  overshot;  eyes  large,  or  light- 
colored;  ears  large,  round  at  the  point,  or  drop.  Too 
heavy  a  coat  is  a  fault.  Coat:  Any  silkiness,  wave,  or 
tendency  to  curl  is  a  serious  blemish,  as  is  also  an  open 
coat.  Specimens  over  eighteen  pounds  should  not  be 
encouraged. 


THE  DANDIE  DINMONT  TEREIER. 


BY  JOHN  H.  NAYLOR. 


>HE  Dandle  Dinmont  Terrier  is  but  little  known  in 
America  to  others  than  fanciers.  It  is  difficult  to 
understand  why  he  is  not  more  popular,  for  although 
not  handsome,  he  is  one  of  the  brightest,  most  active,  and 
vivacious  of  all  the  Terrier  family.  The  liking  for  him  inva- 
riably grows  as  one  becomes  more  acquainted  with  his  good 
qualities,  for  he  embodies  all  tlmt  goes  to  make  up  a  good, 
workmanlike  Terrier,  with  an  admirable  disposition  for  a 
companion  for  lady  or  gentleman,  or  as  a  playmate  for 
children.  In  Europe,  the  breed  is  now  one  of  the  most 
fashionable,  and  the  entries  at  bench  shows  excel  those  of 
most  other  breeds  of  Terriers. 

Until  the  year  1814,  when  the  great  novelist,  Sir  Walter 
Scott,  wrote  "  Guy  Mannering,"  the  breed  was  unknown  by 
its  present  name.  The  general  opinion  is  that  Scott  drew 
the  character  of  the  hero  in  u  Guy  Mannering  "  from  <tames 
Davidson,  a  farmer  of  Hindlee,  in  the  foot-hills  of  the 
Teviotdale  Mountains;  yet  it  is  a  question  whether  at 
the  time  Scott  wrote  "Guy  Mannering"  he  really  por- 
trayed Davidson,  or  whether  the  identity  was  accidental. 
Be  this  as  it  may,  the  likeness  was  so  perfect  that  David- 
son was  ever  afterward  known  as  Dandie  Dinmont  among 
his  neighbors  and  acquaintances. 

James  Davidson  certainly  fitted  the  character  to  perfec- 
tion. He  was  a  great  hunter,  especially  of  foxes  and  badg- 
ers; and  his  Terriers,  which  became  celebrated  for  their 
gameness,  were  generally  named  Pepper  or  Mustard  (such 
as  Old  Pepper  or  Young  Pepper,  Old  Mustard  or  Young 
Mustard),  according  as  their  color  was. 

James  Davidson  died  in  January,  1820,  and  his  fondness 

(471) 


472  THE   AMERICAN    BOOK    OF   THE   DOG. 

for  hunting  was  strong  to  the  end.  The  Hounds  having 
started  a  fox,  which  ran  near  his  window,  while  he  lay  on 
his  death -bed,  he  insisted  on  getting  out  of  bed  to  enjoy 
the  fun,  as  he  called  it.  That  Davidson  was  the  originator 
of  this  now  celebrated  breed  of  dogs  is  not  generally 
believed,  but  they  have  ever  since  borne  his  nickname. 
It  is  believed  that  they  were  in  the  hands  of  border  gypsies 
and  farmers  many  years  before.  Doctor  Brown,  writing  of 
one  of  his  dogs,  says:  "He  came  of  the  Piper  Allan  breed, 
who  lived  some  two  hundred  years  ago,  in  Coquet  Water." 

Allan  was  a  piper,  like  Homer,  traveling  from  place  to 
place,  and  famous  for  his  dogs,  music,  and  songs.  The  Earl 
of  Northumberland  offered  the  piper  a  small  farm  for  his 
dog.  Allan  remarked:  "  Na,  na,  mee  lord;  keep  yer  ferum. 
What  wud  a  piper  do  wi'  a  fernm?" 

It  is  said  by  Mr.  Robert  White  that  the  father  of  Jamie 
Allan  (Piper  Allan)  was  named  William,  and  was  born  in 
1704.  He  was  a  player  on  the  bagpipes,  and  repaired  pots 
and  pans  and  made  spoons  and  baskets.  He  was  an  excel- 
lent angler,  and  among  his  other  pursuits  he  excelled  in 
the  hunting  of  otters,  and  kept  eight  or  ten  Terriers  for  this 
sport.  Peachem  was  William  Allan's  favorite,  and  such 
confidence  had  he  in  the  animal,  that  when  hunting  he  would 
at  tirhes  remark: 

"When  my  Peachem  gi'es  mouth,  I  durst  always  sell 
the  otter's  skin." 

Charlie  was  also  an  excellent  dog.  William  Allan  had 
once  been  employed  by  Lord  Ravensworth  to  kill  otters  on 
the  estate,  which  he  soon  accomplished.  His  lordship 
wishing  to  buy  Charlie,  .at  the  piper's  own  price,  Allan 
turned  round  haughtily,  and  exclaimed: 

"By  the  wuns,  this  hale  estate  canna  buy  Charlie." 

William  Allan  died  in  1779,  aged  seventy-five  years. 
His  son  Jamie  was  born  in  1734. 

Mr.  J.  Davidson,  an  old  fancier  of  the  breed,  published 
a  letter  in  the  Field  (London)  of  December  7,  1778,  which 
sheds  more  light  on  the  question  as  to  how  James  Davidson, 
the  original  Dandie  Dinmont,  came  into  possession  of  his 


THE   DANDIE   DIN  MONT   TERRIER.  473 

first  Dandies  than  we  have  been  able  to  obtain  from  any 
other  source.     He  says: 

"The  Border  Muggers  were  great  breeders  of  Terriers, 
and  in  their  wanderings  the  different  tribes  would  meet 
once  or  twice  a  year  at  some  of  the  border  villages.  If 
they  could  not  get  a  badger,  they  would  try  their  dogs  on 
a  foumart  (wildcat)  or  a  hedgehog. 

"  Jock  Anderson,  the  head  of  the  tribe,  had  a  red  bitch 
that  for  such  work  beat  all  the  dogs  that  came  over  the 
borders.  Geordie  Faa  had  a  wire-haired  dog  that  was  the 
terror  of  all  the  dogs  in  the  district,  and  that  was  good  at 
badger,  fox,  or  foumart.  A  badger  had  been  procured,  and 
both  the  bitch  and  dog  drew  the  badger  every  time.  Geor- 
die Faa  said  to  Jock  Anderson,  'Let's  have  a  big  drink, 
the  man  first  down  to  lose  his  dog.'  '  Done,'  says 
Jock.  Down  they  sat  on  the  green,  and  in  eighteen  hours 
Jock  was  laid  out,  and  Geordie  started  off  with  the  dogs. 
They  were  mated,  and  produced  the  first  Pepper  and  Mus- 
tard, which  were  presented  by  Geordie  to  James  Davidson, 
Dandie  Dinmont." 

Many  years  ago,  E.  Bradshaw  Smith  bought  up  all  the 
good  Dandies  he  could  lay  his  hands  on,  and  even  offered 
Mr.  Milnes  to  cover  Old  Jenny  with  £5  notes  if  he  could 
have  her,  but  the  offer  was  refused.  He,  however,  bought 
up  many  of  the  then  famous  kennels;  and  Dandies  whose 
pedigrees  show  them  to  contain  this  blood  are  eagerly 
sought  after  by  breeders  of  the  present  day.  The  Dandie 
Dinmont  is  a  very  game  dog.  Some  few  specimens  that 
have  been  spoiled  in  their  puppy  hood  may  show  the 
white  feather,  and  this  may  be  true  of  any  other  breed; 
but  this  is  far  from  being  the  rule  with  the  Dandie.  He  is 
not  a  quarrelsome  dog,  but  once  aroused,  he  goes  in  to  win, 
and  is  sure  to  give  a  good  account  of  himself. 

Many  instances  of  Dandies  worrying  each  other  in  their 
kennels  have  been  noted.  I  have  suffered  myself  from  this. 
My  Border  Clinker  killed  Bonnie  Briton  in  midday,  and 
neither  made  the  least  noise.  That  old  breeder,  Mr.  Som- 
ner,  owned  the  famous  Shem,  whose  father  and  brother  are 


474  THE   AMERICAN   BOOK   OF   THE   DOG. 

said  to  have  been  found  dead  in  a  drain  in  which  the 
Hounds  had  run  a  fox.  The  drain  had  three  entrances;  the 
father  was  put  in  at  one  hole,  the  son  at  another,  and  speed- 
ily the  fox  bolted  out  at  the  third,  but  no  appearance  of  the 
little  Terriers,  and  on  digging  they  were  found  dead,  locked 
in  each  other's  jaws.  They  had  met,  and  it  being  dark, 
and  there  being  no  time  for  explanations,  they  had  throttled 
each  other. 

In  closing,  I  must  say  that  anyone  wishing  a  hardy 
Terrier,  one  fit  for  all  kinds  of  work,  a  companion  for  him- 
self or  children,  can  not  find  anything  better  than  a  Dandie 
Dinmont.  The  more  they  become  known,  the  more  their 
merits  will  be  appreciated.  I  speak  from  years  of  experi- 
ence with  this  breed,  having  imported  some  of  the  finest 
blood  known;  and  more  Dandies  have  passed  through  my 
hands,  and  more  prizes  have  been  won  by  my  dogs,  than  by 
those  of  all  other  breeders  in  America  combined. 

Following  is  the  standard  of  points  of  the  Dandie  Din- 
mont Terrier  as  defined  and  adopted  by  the  South  of  Scot- 
land Dandie  Dinmont  Terrier  Society.  The  relative  values 
of  several  points  in  the  standard  are  apportioned  as  follows: 

Value.  Value. 

Head 10    Legs  and  feet 10 

Eyes 10    Coat     15 

Ears 10    Color 5 

Neck 5    Size  and  weight 5 

Body 20    General  appearance 5 

Tail 5 

Total 100 

Head. — Strongly  made  and  large,  not  out  of  proportion 
to  the  dog's  size,  the  muscles  showing  extraordinary  de- 
velopment, more  especially  the  maxillary.  Skull  broad 
between  the  ears,  getting  gradually  less  toward  the  eyes, 
and  measuring  about  the  same  from  the  inner  corner  of  the 
eye  to  back  of  skull  as  it  does  from  ear  to  ear.  The  fore- 
head well  domed.  The  head  is  covered  with  very  soft,  silky 
hair,  which  should  not  be  confined  to  a  mere  top-knot,  and 
the  lighter  in  color  and  silkier  it  is  the  better.  The  cheeks, 
starting  from  the  ears  proportionately  with  the  skull,  have 
a  gradual  taper  toward  the  muzzle,  which  is  deep  and 


THE   DANDIE   DINMONT   TEKRIEK.  475 

strongly  made,  and  measures  about  three  inches  in  length, 
or  in  proportion  to  skull  as  three  is  to  five.  The  muzzle  is 
covered  with  hair  of  a  little  darker  shade  than  the  top-knot, 
and  of  the  same  texture  as  the  feather  of  the  fore  legs.  The 
top  of  the  muzzle  is  generally  bare  for  about  an  inch  from 
the  back  part  of  the  nose,  the  bareness  coming  to  a  point 
toward  the  eye,  and  being  about  one  inch  broad  at  the 
nose.  The  nose  and  inside  of  mouth  black  or  dark-colored. 
The  teeth  very  strong,  especially  the  canine,  which  are  of 
extraordinary  size  for  such  a  small  dog.  The  canines  fit 
well  into  each  other,  so  as  to  give  the  greatest  available 
holding  and  punishing  power,  and  the  teeth  are  level  in 
front,  the  upper  ones  very  slightly  overlapping  the  under 
ones.  (All  undershot  and  overshot  specimens  will  not  be 
recognized  by  the  society. ) 

Eyes. — Set  wide  apart,  large,  full,  round,  bright,  express- 
ive of  great  determination,  intelligence,  and  dignity;  set 
low  and  prominent  in  front  of  the  head;  color,  a  rich, 
dark  hazel. 

Ears. — Large  and  pendulous,  set  well  back,  wide  apart, 
and  low  on  the  skull,  hanging  close  to  the  cheek,  with  a 
very  slight  projection  at  the  base;  broad  at  the  junction  of 
the  head,  and  tapering  almost  to  a  point,  the  fore  part  of 
the  ear  tapering  very  little — the  taper  being  mostly  on  the 
back  part,  the  fore  part  of  the  ear  coming  almost  straight 
down  from  its  junction  with  the  head  to  the  tip.  They  are 
covered  with  a  soft,  straight,  brown  hair  (in  some  cases 
almost  black),  and  have  a  thin  feather  of  light  hair  starting 
about  two  inches  from  the  tip,  and  of  nearly  the  same  color 
and  texture  as  the  top -knot,  which  gives  the  ear  the  appear- 
ance of  a  distinct  point.  The  animal  is  often  one  or  two 
years  old  before  the  feather  is  shown.  The  cartilage  and 
skin  of  the  ear  should  not  be  thick,  but  rather  thin. 
Length  of  ear,  from  three  to  four  inches. 

Neck. — Very  muscular,  well  developed,  arid  strong, 
showing  great  power  of  resistance,  being  well  set  into 
the  shoulders. 

Body. — Long,  strong,  and  flexible;  ribs  well  sprung  and 


476  THE  AMERICAN   BOOK   OF   THE   DOG. 

round;  chest  well  developed,  and  let  well  down  between  the 
fore  legs;  the  back  rather  low  at  the  shoulder,  having  a 
slight  downward  curve  and  a  corresponding  arch  over  the 
loins,  with  a  very  slight  gradual  drop  from  top  of  loins  to 
root  of  tail;  both  sides  of  backbone  well  supplied  with 
muscle. 

Tail. — Rather  short,  say  from  eight  to  ten  inches,  and 
covered  on  the  tipper  side  with  wiry  hair  of  darker  color 
than  that  of  the  body,  the  hair  on  the  under  side  being 
lighter  in  color,  and  not  so  wiry,  with  a  nice  feather  about 
two  inches  long,  getting  shorter  as  it  nears  the  tip;  rather 
thick  at  the  root,  getting  thicker  for  about  four  inches, 
then  tapering  off  to  a  point.  It  should  not  be  twisted  or 
curled  in  any  way,  but  should  come  up  with  a  regular  curve 
like  a  scimiter,  the  tip,  when  excited,  being  in  a  perpendic- 
ular line  with  the  root  of  the  tail.  It  should  neither  be  set 
on  too  high  nor  too  low.  When  not  excited  it  is  carried 
gaily,  and  a  little  above  the  level  of  the  body. 

Legs. — The  fore  legs  short,  with  immense  muscular 
development  and  bone,  set  wide  apart,  the  chest  coming 
well  down  between  them.  The  feet  well  formed,  and  not 
flat,  with  very  strong  brown  or  dark-colored  claws.  Bandy- 
legs  and  flat  feet  are  objectionable,  but  may  be  avoided— 
the  bandy-legs  by  the  use  of  splints  when  first  noticed,  and 
the  flat  feet  by  exercise,  and  a  dry  bed  and  floor  to  the 
kennel.  The  hair  on  the  fore  legs  and  feet  of  a  blue  dog 
should  be  tan,  varying  according  to  the  body-color  from  a 
rich  tan  to  a  pale  fawn;  of  a  mustard  dog  they  are  of  a 
darker  shade  than  its  head,  which  is  a  creamy  white.  In 
both  colors  there  is  a  nice  feather,  about  two  inches  long, 
rather  lighter  in  color  than  the  hair  on  the  fore  part  of  the 
leg.  The  hind  legs  are  a  little  longer  than  the  fore  ones, 
and  are  set  rather  wide  apart,  but  not  spread  out  in  an  un- 
natural manner,  while  the  feet  are  much  smaller;  the  thighs 
are  well  developed,  and  the  hair  of  the  same  color  and  text- 
ure as  the  fore  ones,  but  having  no  feather  or  dew-claws; 
the  whole  claws  should  be  dark;  but  the  claws  of  all  vary 
in  shade  according  to  the  color  of  the  dog's  body. 


t 

THE   DANDIE   DINMONT  TEKKIER.  477 

Coat. — This  is  a  very  important  point;  the  hair  should 
be  about  two  inches  long,  that  from  skull  to  root  of  tail  a 
mixture  of  hardish  and  soft  hair,  which  gives  a  sort  of  crisp 
feel  to  the  hand.  The  hard  should  not  be  wiry;  the  coat  is 
what  is  termed  pily  or  penciled.  The  hair  on  the  under 
part  of  the  body  is  lighter  in  color  and  softer  than  on  the 
top.  The  skin  on  the  belly  accords  with  the  color  of  the 
dog. 

Color. — The  color  is  pepper  or  mustard.  The  pepper- 
color  ranges  from  a  dark  bluish-black  to  a  light  silvery 
gray,  the  intermediate  shades  being  preferred;  the  body- 
color  coming  well  down  the  shoulder  and  hips,  gradually 
merging  into  the  leg-color.  The  mustards  vary  from  a  red- 
dish-brown to  a  pale  fawn,  the  head  being  a  creamy  white, 
the  legs  and  feet  of  a  shade  darker  than  the  head.  The 
claws  are  dark,  as  in  other  colors.  (Nearly  all  Dandie  Din- 
mont  Terriers  have  some  white  on  the  chest,  and  some  have 
also  white  claws. ) 

Size. — The  height  should  be  from  eight  to  eleven  inches 
at  the  top  of  shoulder.  Length  from  top  of  shoulder  to 
root  of  tail  should  not  be  more  than  twice  the  dog's  height, 
but  preferably  one  or  two  inches  less. 

Weight. — From  fourteen  pounds  to  twenty-four  pounds; 
the  best  weight  as  near  eighteen  pounds  as  possible.  These 
weights  are  for  dogs  in  good  working  order. 


THE  SKYE  TERRIER 


BY  LAWRENCE  TIMPSON. 


ROBABLY  no  other  subject  in  relation  to  doggy 
affairs  has  been  more  written  about  or  has  given  rise 
to  more  controversies,  all  more  or  less  rancorous,  in 
the  past  twenty  years,  than  the  origin  and  true  type 
of  the  Skye  Terrier.  At  the  same  time,  these  controver- 
sies have  left  the  subject  in  dispute  pretty  much  as  they 
found  it,  and  although  more  or  less  light  has  been  thrown 
on  the  different  points  at  issue,  no  conclusion  has  ever  yet 
been  reached  that  was  satisfactory  to  all  fanciers  of  this 
breed;  the  disputants,  after  airing  their  theories  and  attack- 
ing their  neighbors',  ending  as  they  began,  each  with  his 
own  opinion  unaltered. 

I  shall  not  attempt  to  notice  and  sum  up  these  various 
controversies;  even  if  an  article  such  as  this  would  admit 
of  it,  which  it  does  not,  the  matter  would  be  too  tedious 
and  unprofitable.  I  shall  take  the  type  of  Skye  Terrier 
that  is  recognized  to-day,  and  confine  myself  to  a  slight- 
sketch  of  what  is  known  of  its  origin  and  history,  not 
entering  into  any  speculations  on  the  subject. 

Scattered  throughout  the  whole  of  Scotland  are  various 
strains  of  rough-coated  Terriers,  the  Terriers  of  one  district 
having  a  certain  similarity  of  type  and  differing  more  or 
less  from  those  of  other  districts.  Of  these,  there  appears 
at  present  to  be  but  two  strains  that  are  generally  recog- 
nized as  distinct  breeds — the  Skye  and  the  Dandie  Dinmont. 
Besides  these,  the  hard-haired  Scotch  and  the  Airedale  have 
lately  come  in  for  some  notice  in  England,  but  have  not 
yet  attracted  much  attention  in  this  country.  Among 
other  strains  of  more  or  less  local  celebrity  are  the  Aber- 
deenshires,  Dry  nocks,  Mogstads,  and  others  whose  day  on 

(479) 


480  THE   AMERICAN   BOOK  OF   THE   DOG. 

the  show  bench  may  come  sometime  when  some  circum- 
stance or  other  has  brought  them  to  the  notice  of  the 
public,  and  they  will  emerge  from  the  obscurity  of  their 
native  dales. 

The  Dandie  Dinmont  would  have  been  as  little  known, 
perhaps  such  a  breed  would  not  have  been  in  existence  at 
all  to-day,  if  their  praises  and  those  of  old  James  Davidson, 
of  Hindlee,  the  stout  old  Liddesdale  yeoman,  had  not  been 
sung  by  Sir  Walter  Scott  in  his  "Gruy  Mannering."  The 
Skye,  though  a  native  of  the  island  whose  name  he  bears, 
and  of  the  adjacent  coast,  like  his  cousin  the  Dandie  Din- 
mont, who  originally  came  from  the  borders  of  Liddesdale 
and  the  Teviot  district,  has  left  his  native  place,  and  has 
been  for  so  long  a  time  established  generally  all  through 
the  Highlands  that  comparatively  few  come  from  or  ?ire  to 
be  found  now  at  the  original  home  of  the  breed. 

There  is  a  story  current  to  the  effect  that  the  strain  of 
Terriers  on  the  island  of  Skye,  and  the  adjacent  mainland, 
got  that  silky  texture  of  coat  which  distinguishes  them 
from  the  other  strains  from  some  mythical  white  Spanish 
dogs  that  came  ashore  from  the  wreck  of  some  ships  of  the 
Spanisli  armada  that  were  lost  among  the  Hebrides. 
Whether  this  be  true  or  not,  we  find  the  Skye  Terrier 
possessed  of  a  longer  and  comparatively  more  silky  coat 
than  the  other  strains.  The  breed  is  pretty  generally 
divided  into  two  classes,  the  drop-eared  and  the  prick-eared, 
about  the  only  difference  between  them  being  the  carriage 
of  the  ears  and  tail,  and  in  the  drop -eared  variety  a  smaller 
head,  a  longer  body,  and  a  somewhat  longer  and  softer  coat. 

They  are  practically  the  same,  however,  this  difference  in 
type  being  brought  about  merely  by  selection,  owing  to  the 
preference  of  some  for  the  longer,  silkier  coated  dog  for  a 
pet,  over  his  more  workmanlike  cousin.  For  the  purposes 
of  this  article  I  will  treat  them  as  one  and  the  same,  having 
at  the  outset  pointed  out  what  differences  do  exist  between 
them. 

The  Skye  Terrier  is  a  long,  low,  well-built,  wiry  little 
fellow,  with  a  good  hard  jacket,  an  intelligent,  alert  ex- 


THE   SKYE  TERRIER. 


481 


pression,  and  a  sound  constitution,  which  enables  him  to 
go  almost  anywhere,  do  almost  anything,  and  rough  it  with 
his  master  in  any  climate.  He  is  a  born  sportsman,  always 
ready  for  a  quiet  bit  of  sport  in  a  barn,  or  along  the  hedge- 
rows, displaying  the  utmost  keenness  and  sagacity  in  the 
pursuit  of  all  sorts  of  vermin;  and  he  is  death  to  any 
animal  of  his  own  weight.  Although  always  ready  to 
defend  himself  or  his  master,  and  never  showing  the  "  white 


SKYE   TERRIER— LOVAT. 
Owned  by  Lawrence  Timpson,  16  Exchange  Place,   New  York  City. 

feather,"  no  matter  what  the  odds  may  be  against  him,  in 
size  or  numbers,  he,  unlike  the  Fox,  Dandie,  and  Irish 
Terrier,  is  not  at  all  quarrelsome. 

The  Skye  is  a  peaceful,  well-conducted  little  citizen,  and 
attends  strictly  to  his  own  affairs,  unless  those  affairs  are 
interfered  with  by  others.  This  quarrelsome  characteristic 
tells  seriously  against  the  other  breeds  mentioned,  espe- 
cially as  ladies'  companions.  The  red  Irishman,  in  particu- 
lar, dearly  loves  a  "mill,"  and,  figuratively  speaking,  is 
always  trailing  his  coat-tails  behind  him,  and  trying  to  have 

31 


482  THE  AMERICAN   BOOK   OF  THE   DOG. 

them  walked  on.     The  Skye's  temper  can  always  be  relied 
on,  and  he  can  be  implicitly  trusted  with  children. 

No  other  breed  is  better  adapted  to  going  to  earth;  their 
long  and  low  conformation,  resembling  that  of  weasels 
and  other  earth-frequenting  vermin,  giving  the  greatest 
amount  of  size  and  strength  possible  for  the  small  "caliber" 
required.  Their  disposition  resembles  very  much  that  of  the 
Highlanders  themselves  —  in  their  love  of  home,  and  in 
war  by  their  dash,  pluck,  and  dogged  courage  and  endur- 
ance, and  by  a  loyalty  and  devotion  to  their  master,  through 
fair  and  foul  weather,  only  equaled  by  that  of  the  old 
Scotch  Jacobites  for  the  head  of  the  House  of  Stuart. 

The  Skye  is  an  exceptionally  good  house-dog,  and  his 
coat,  though  so  long,  is  entirely  free  from  any  unpleasant 
odor.  In  spite  of  its  length,  too,  it  requires  very  little  care 
to  keep  it  in  order.  After  a  run  in  the  country,  on  a 
muddy  road,  or  over  plowed  land,  he  requires  to  be  quar- 
antined in  the  lower  regions  for  awhile  before  being  allowed 
in  the  house;  and  in  the  autumn,  whenever  he  gets  his  coat 
full  of  burs,  it  requires  a  free  use  of  the  scissors  and  the 
sacrifice  of  considerable  hair  to  remove  them.  Under  ordi- 
nary conditions,  however,  in  town  or  countryr  his  coat 
requires  no  more  attention  than  that  of  other  breeds. 

All  this  applies  to  dogs  with  outer  coats  of  the  proper 
texture;  straight  and  comparatively  hard,  parting  down 
the  center  of  the  back  naturally,  without  any  tendency  to 
kink  or  curl.  Skyes,  especially  drop-eared  ones,  whose 
coats  are  too  soft,  approaching  more  nearly  that  of  the 
Yorkshire,  of  course  give  much  more  trouble  in  this  respect, 
requiring  frequent  thorough  soakings  in  tepid  water,  and 
considerable  brushing  and  combing,  to  keep  their  jackets 
straight. 

The  Skye  is  a  good  water-dog,  taking  to  it  without  the 
least  hesitation,  be  it  ever  so  cold;  and  he  is  the  best  of 
watch- dogs — a  vigilant  little  Skye  being  the  surest  burglar- 
alarm  one  can  have.  Of  course  I  am  speaking  now  of  the 
Skye  as  he  naturally  is,  and  as  he  should  be.  His  natural 
disposition,  his  intelligence,  and  his  love  of  sport,  are,  in 


THE  SKYE  TEKKIEK.  483 

many  instances,  spoiled  by  his  being  made,  from  puppy- 
hood,  a  pampered  house-pet,  and  his  coat  and  constitution 
likewise  suffer  from  warm  quarters,  overfeeding,  and  lack 
of  proper  exercise. 

He  is  deservedly  popular  among  gamekeepers  through- 
out both  England  and  Scotland,  and  equally  so  about  the 
stables  or  in  the  laborer's  cottage.  And  for  work,  and  on 
country  rambles,  or  by  his  fireside,  the  squire  can  have  no 
better  companion  than  this  friendly,  cheerful,  little  fellow. 
He  is  particularly  well  adapted  for  a  town  house,  and,  on 
the  whole,  is  all  around  the  most  companionable  of  small 
dogs,  and  especially  for  ladies. 

It  may  appear  to  some,  especially  to  those  who  admire 
the  unquestionable  merits  of  other  breeds,  that  I  have  been 
showing  the  Skye  through  rose-colored  glasses;  but  I  am 
speaking  from  experience.  I  have  owned,  at  one  time  or 
another,  Terriers  of  about  all  the  breeds,  and  none  of  my 
old  friends  are  forgotten.  As  I  write,  I  can  see,  in  fancy, 
a  row  of  little  wistful  faces — white  ones  and  red  ones,  blue, 
tan,  and  grizzle,  stretching  away  back  to  my  school-boy 
days;  and  apart  from  all  feelings  for  particular  individuals, 
I  can  truly  say  that  the  Skye  has  proved  himself  to  be,  to 
me,  the  best,  and  I  am  glad  to  have  an  opportunity,  such 
as  this,  of  paying  him  the  tribute  he  deserves. 

The  history  of  the  Skye  Terrier  in  America  commences,  as 
does  that  of  the  majority  of  our  breeds  of  dogs,  with  the 
institution  by  the  Westminster  Kennel  Club  of  their  first 
annual  bench  show,  in  1877.  Previous  to  that  time,  almost 
any  blue,  rough -coated  Terrier  was  called,  in  this  country,  a 
Skye,  and  at  the  first  few  shows  the  exhibits  were  generally 
pretty  much  all  of  the  nondescript  order;  but  the  winners 
were  nearly  all  of  the  right  stamp,  and  the  dog-loving  public 
soon  learned,  in  a  general  way,  what  a  Skye  should  really 
look  like. 

Among  the  first  exhibitors  were  Mr.  W.  P.  Sanderson, 
of  Philadelphia,  who  showed  Donald,  and  Mr.  Robert 
McLelland,  of  New  York,  with  Tom.  Later,  came  Mr. 
Robert  Sewell,  of  Tarrytown,  with  Tatters  and  others. 


484  THE   AMERICAN   BOOK    OF  THE   DOG. 

The  most  successful  dog  that  has  yet  appeared  on  the  bench, 
over  here,  is  Mr.  W.  P.  Sanderson' s  Jim,  whose  winnings  are: 
First,  Pittsburgh;  champion,  New  York;  champion,  Cleve- 
land, 1882;  champion,  New  York;  champion,  Washington, 
1883;  champion,  New  York;  champion,  Philadelphia,  1884; 
champion,  Philadelphia,  1885;  champion,  New  York,  1886; 
first,  Boston,  1887;  first,  Philadelphia,  1887.  Boss,  imported 
by  Mr.  George  Peabody  Wetmore,  of  Newport,  the  best 
Skye  that  had,  up  to  then,  appeared  on  this  side,  with  the 
exception  of  Mr.  Sanderson's  Jim,  was  shown  at  New  York 
in  1884,  and  in  the  same  year,  Mr.  George  Sanderson, 
of  Moncton,  New  Brunswick,  entered  the  lists  with  Watty 
and  Fanny. 

Among  the  principal  breeders  and  exhibitors  of  the  Skye 
in  America,  besides  those  already  mentioned,  are:  Mr,  A.  W. 
Powers,  of  Lansingburgh,  N.  Y. ;  Dr.  M.  H.  Cryer,  of  Phil- 
adelphia; Mr.  S.  S.  Howland,  of  Mount  Morris,  N.  Y. ;  Mr. 
Cornelius  Stevenson,  of  Philadelphia;  Messrs.  Oldham  and 
Wiley,  of  Mamaroneck,  N.  Y. ;  the  Meadowthorpe  Kennels, 
of  Lexington,  Ky.,  and  Mr.  F.  W.  Flint,  of  New  York.* 

The  following  is  the  standard  and  scale  of  points  of  the 
Skye  Terrier : 

Value.  Value. 

Head 15    Coat 20 

Ears  and  eyes 10    Color 5 

Body  and  neck 15    Size  and  symmetry 15 

Legs  and  feet 10 

Tail 10  Total 100 

The  head  should  be  long,  rather  narrow  between  the 
ears,  increasing  in  width  between  the  eyes,  with  a  flat 
skull,  little  or  no  brow,  and  a  pointed  nose.  The  teeth 

*  Other  breeders  and  exhibitors  of  Skye  Terriers  in  this  country  are:  J. 
L.  Banks,  120  Broadway,  New  York  City;  Lewis  H.  Spence,  78  Broad  street, 
New  York  City;  C.  H.  Smith,  St.  Stephen,  New  Brunswick;  W.  W.  Silvey, 
1428  South  Pennsylvania  Square,  Philadelphia,  Penn. ;  W.  P.  Sanderson,  4202 
Baltimore  avenue,  Philadelphia,  Penn.;  H.  P.  McKean,  Jr.,  Pulaski  avenue, 
Germ;intown,  Penn.;  J.  S.  Garner,  1134  Baltimore  street,  Philadelphia,  Penn.; 
Miss  Sarah  Stewart,  143  North  Eleventh  street,  Philadelphia,  Penn.;  C.  A. 
Shinn,  1543  Filbert  street,  Philadelphia,  Penn.;  A.  McGregor,  353  Forty- 
seventh  street,  West  Chicago;  M.  H.  York,  307  North  Third  street,  West 
Camden,  N.  J. — ED. 


THE   SKYE  TERKIER.  485 

should  be  perfectly  level  and  evenly  set  in  good,  strong 
jaws.  Nose  and  roof  of  mouth  black,  or  very  dark  brown. 

Ears  and  eyes. — The  ears  are  set  on  rather  high,  not 
large,  being  less  than  three  inches  'long;  but  the  hair  on 
them,  mixing  with  that  of  the  head,  neck,  and  cheeks, 
makes  them  look  much  larger.  In  the  drop-eared  variety 
they  should  fall  perpendicularly  and  lie  close  to  the  cheek, 
and  in  the  prick-eared  variety  they  should  stand  well  up, 
without  any  outward  inclination.  The  eyes  should  be  dark- 
brown  or  hazel,  of  medium  size,  and  sharp  in  expression, 
though  at  the  same  time  bespeaking  wisdom  and  kindli- 
ness. 

Body  and  neck. — The  back  is  long,  but  strongly  coated 
with  muscle  and  perfectly  straight,  any  tendency  toward 
the  roach -back  of  the  Dandie  Dinmont  being  especially 
objectionable.  The  ribs  are  round,  the  chest  barrel-like, 
and  the  back  ribs  should  extend  well  toward  the  hips. 
The  neck  is  long  and  well  clothed  with  muscle,  rising  evenly 
out  of  the  chest.  Shoulders  strong  and  rather  upright. 

Legs  and  feet. — The  legs  should  be  straight,  and  the 
elbows  and  stifles  not  turned  out.  The  thighs  should  be 
well  clothed  with  muscle  down  to  the  hocks.  Feet  round 
and  well  covered  with  hair.  There  should  be  no  dew-claws. 

Tail. — This  should  be  carried  low  by  the  drop-eared 
variety,  and  about  level  with  the  back  by  the  prick-eared. 
Under  excitement,  it  is  sometimes  carried  gaily. 

Coat. — The  outer  coat  should  consist  of  hard,  long, 
straight  hair,  and  the  under  coat  should  be  close,  soft,  and 
woolly  in  texture.  On  the  back,  the  coat  should  be  straight 
and  free  from  curl,  and  should  part  naturally  down  the 
middle.  This  parting  is  usually  assisted  with  the  comb; 
but  it  can  not  be  so  trained  by  this  alone,  if  the  outer  coat  is 
naturally  curly  and  of  a  woolly  texture.  Although  the 
outer  coat  is  hard  and  straight,  the  inner  woolly  coat  is  so 
thick  on  the  body  that  when  the  dog  is  wet  it  prevents  the 
outer  coat  from  collapsing  and  adhering  to  his  sides.  On 
the  head  and  legs,  this  is  not  the  case;  and  when  the  dog  is 
wet,  his  head  presents  a  very  different  aspect  from  that 


486  THE   AMERICAN    BOOK    OF   THE   DOG. 

shown  when  in  the  natural  state— it  looking  so  much  smaller 
and  longer.  The  length  of  coat  on  the  body  should  be  con- 
siderable, but  should  not  be  so  great  as  to  entirely  hide  the 
animal's  shape  or  to  touch  the  ground.  On  the  head,  it 
should  be  long,  overhanging  the  eyes,  often  so  as  to  com- 
pletely conceal  them.  The  tail  should  be  well  feathered, 
but  not  so  as  to  make  it  appear  bushy  or  woolly.  The  legs 
also  should  have  a  certain  amount  of  feather,  but  without 
any  approach  to  matting. 

The  colors  should  be  black  and  slate,  or  black  with  white 
hairs,  silver  gray,  or  fawn.  Silver  gray  is  certainly  the 
handsomest — for  a  lady's  pet,  especially.  This  latter 
should  be  tipped  with  black,  and  the  fawn  with  black  or 
dark-brown. 

Size  and  symmetry. — The  Skye  Terrier  should  stand 
from  nine  to  ten  inches  high  at  the  shoulder,  and  his  length 
from  end  of  nose  to  tip  of  tail  should  be  from  thirty -five  to 
forty  inches;  the  prick-eared  variety  a  trifle  shorter  in 
proportion  to  his  height.  The  weight  should  be  from  six- 
teen to  twenty  pounds.  He  should  display  perfect  sym- 
metry in  his  proportions. 

In  preparing  the  Skye  for  the  bench,  the  all-important 
point  to  be  looked  after  is  the  coat.  No  matter  how  good  a 
dog  may  be  otherwise,  if  his  coat  is  in  bad  shape  when  he 
faces  the  judge,  he  has  to  go  to  the  wall.  The  principal 
thing  to  do  to  get  the  coat  in  good  shape  is  to  keep  the 
skin  healthy  by  means  of  proper  exercise  and  feeding;  this, 
together  with  protecting  the  coat  for  the  time  from  wet  and 
dirt,  and  by  proper  washing  and  brushing,  which,  however, 
must  not  be  overdone,  will  bring  about  the  desired  result. 

The  subject  of  our  illustration,  Lovat,  the  property  of 
Mr.  Cornelius  Stevenson,  of  Philadelphia,  was  bred  by  Mr. 
A.  Cromby,  of  Edinburgh,  and  was  whelped  April  10,  1887. 
His  sire  is  Sir  William  Wallace;  dam,  Daisy.  His  winnings 
are:  Second,  Ayr;  second,  Glasgow;  second,  Greenock; 
second,  Paisley;  first  and  special,  Dundee;  first  and  special, 
Dunfermline;  first,  New  York,  1889,  and  first  and  special, 
Philadelphia,  1889. 


THE   SKYE   TEKRIEK. 


487 


I  hope  that  the  Skye  will  continue  to  advance  in  popu- 
larity in  the  future  as  rapidly  as  he  has  in  the  past,  and 
that  I  may  have  brought  his  merits  to  the  notice  of  new 
friends  and  been  instrumental  in  establishing  him  in  a 
higher  niche  among  the  dogs  of  America. 


THE  BLACK  AND  TAJST  TERRIER. 


BY  H.  T.  FOOTE,  M.  D.,  V.  S. 


>HIS  breed  has  the  distinction,  if  previous  writers  are 
correct,  of  being  the  source  of  nearly  or  quite  all 
breeds  of  Terriers.  According  to  the  earliest  his- 
tory of  the  dog,  there  existed  in  England  a  rough-haired 
Black  and  Tan  Terrier  thicker  in  skull,  shorter  in  head, 
and  stockier  in  body.  The  tan  of  these  dogs  was  extensive, 
and  of  a  lighter  shade  than  that  usually  seen  on  modern 
specimens.  They  went  to  earth  after  game,  and  had  great 
stamina  and  courage.  According  to  Youatt,  smooth-coated 
Terriers  came  from  crossing  these  dogs  with  Hounds,  and 
long- coated  Terriers  from  crossing  with  curs.  From  cross- 
ings with  other  pure  breeds,  the  various  fancy  breeds  of 
Terriers  have  been  established. 

So  far  as  the  Black  and  Tan  is  concerned,  he  has,  during 
the  past  few  centuries,  evoluted  into  a  more  delicately  and 
gracefully  built  animal,  with  short,  fine,  smooth,  and  jet- 
black  coat  over  the  greater  part  of  the  body,  and  with  a 
small  amount  of  much  darker  tan.  The  thumb-marks, 
pencilings,  and  "  kissing- spots  "  have  been  developed,  the 
head  has  lengthened,  and,  like  his  body,  is  narrower  than 
formerly.  With  this  change  in  his  physical  make-up,  it  is 
not  surprising  that  he  has,  at  the  same  time,  lost  some  of 
his  cornbativehess  and  courage;  yet  one  now  occasionally 
sees  a  specimen  that  manifests  all  the  fighting  qualities  and 
Terrier  instincts  that  the  early  Terrier  was  so  famous  for, 
and,  as  a  whole,  no  breed  can  surpass  the  modern  Black  and 
Tan  for  natural  rat-killing  abilities.  He  gives  a  sharp  nip, 
and  turns  from  one  rat  to  another  without  delay. 

Early  in  1889,  a  great  rat-baiting  contest  was  held  in 
Antwerp.  The  rats  came  from  the  sewers  of  Paris,  and 

(489) 


490 


THE  AMERICAN    BOOK   OF  THE   DOG. 


were  large  and  ferocious.  The  Black  and  Tan  won,  killing 
the  most  rats,  and  in  the  shortest  time.  The  competition 
was  large,  pretty  much  all  breeds  of  Terriers  being  repre- 
sented. What  the  best  record  is  for  killing  rats  I  do  not 
know,  but  an  example  of  the  rapidity  of  movement  of  a 
Black  and  Tan  Terrier  is  shown  in  the  record  of  Shaw's 
Jacko,  who  killed  one  hundred  rats  in  less  than  seven 
minutes. 


BLACK   AND   TAN   TERRIER    PUPPIES. 
By  Dick  ex  Meersbrook  Maiden.     Owned  by  Dr.  H.  T.  Foote,  120  Lexington  avenue,   New  York  City. 

It  is  as  a  clean,  alert  house-dog  and  a  bright,  handsome 
companion  that  the  Black  and  Tan  Terrier  has  gained  a 
reputation  equaled  by  no  other  breed;  and  this  is  one  of  the 
few  points  upon  which  all  authorities  on  doggy  matters 
seem  to  agree.  His  color  and  shortness  of  coat  render  the 
few  hairs  he  may  leave  about  unnoticeable.  He  is  quickly 
house-broken,  and  as  a  burglar-alarm  no  modern  electrical 
contrivance  can  compare  with  him.  He  is  not  quarrelsome, 
and  avoids  trouble  with  other  dogs  or  people  so  far  as  possi- 


THE  BLACK  AND   TAN   TERRIER.  491 

ble;  but  once  he  is  aroused,  the  instinct  of  his  ancestry 
gives  him  all  the  necessary  courage  and  cunning  to  stay  in 
the  fight  to  the  finish.  In  the  kennel,  a  number  of  this  breed 
can  be  kept  together  regardless  of  sex,  and  it  is  rare  that 
any  ill-nature  crops  out. 

On  the  bench,  length  and  narrowness  of  head  and  cor- 
rectness of  markings  have  had  great  weight,  and  perhaps 
not  enough  attention  has  been  given  to  other  points,  espe- 
cially to  Terrier  character  in  expression,  and  to  good  legs 
and  feet.  The  specimen  I  have  selected  for  illustration, 
Meersbrook  Maiden  (13744),  is  strong  in  these  particulars, 
and  has  not  the  extreme  of  length  and  narrowness  of  head. 
She  has  twenty  wins  to  her  credit  in  England,  and  during 
1887  and  1888  competed  successfully  with  the  best  speci- 
mens of  the  breed  in  that  country.  Since  coming  to  Amer- 
ica, she  has  added  to  her  list  of  wins,  and  recent  criticisms 
in  our  sporting  papers,  giving  reports  of  shows,  are  to  the 
effect  that  she  outclasses  all  other  specimens  in  this  country 
at  present.  This  bitch  has  improved  wonderfully  since  she 
came  here,  and  I  do  not  believe  that  she  was  ever  shown  in 
as  good  form  when  in  England  as  she  is  now  in,  although 
at  the  time  this  photograph  was  taken  she  was  too  fat. 

Kaiser,  owned  by  John  F.  Campbell,  of  Montreal,  and 
his  litter  sister,  Rochelle  Lass,  are  next  in  order  of  merit 
among  those  in  this  country.  Both  have  manifested 
excellence  in  competition  on  the  bench,  and  are  important 
acquisitions  to  the  breed.  Edward  Lever  was  one  of  the 
earliest  to  introduce  the  breed  here,  and  the  blood  of  his 
Champion  Vortigern  flows  in  the  veins  of  about  all  the  good 
home-bred  ones  that  have  been  seen.  Vortigern  was  a 
thoroughly  game  dog,  and  he  held  in  no  fear  the  drawing 
of  a  badger  or  a  tussle  with  a  Bull  Terrier.  Now  that 
more  perfect  specimens  are  being  imported,  we  may  look 
for  marked  and  rapid  improvement  in  this  breed,  and  it  is 
to  be  hoped  they  will  receive  the  recognition  that  they  so 
much  deserve. 

There  have  been  but  few  successful  breeders,  and  among 
those  most  prominent  in  England  was  Mr.  Samuel  Handley, 


492  THE  AMERICAN   BOOK   OF  THE   DOG. 

of  Manchester.  He  developed  the  most  perfect  specimens 
of  the  breed  in  his  time,  and  his  kennels  became  so  noted 
that  the  breed  has  since  been  known  in  England  as  the 
"Manchester  Terrier."  As,  however,  it  was  known  as  the 
Black  and  Tan  Terrier  for  a  long  period  before  Mr.  Handley 
became  prominent,  it  would  be  better  to  go  on  with  the 
breed  with  its  original  name.  Among  later  breeders  and 
exhibitors,  Mr.  Henry  Lacy  and  Mr.  Thomas  Ellis  have 
been  prominent. 

Among  noted  dogs  that  can  be  found  in  the  pedigrees 
of  most  good  specimens  of  the  present  day,  are  Saff, 
Belcher,  General,  Sir  Edward,  Burke',  Wallis,  and  General 
III.,  and  the  most  noticeable  of  our  present  specimens  are 
Lord  George,  Prince  George,  Kenwood  Queen,  Broomfield 
Turk,  Pearl,  Vesper,  and  the  subject  of  my  illustration, 
Meersbrook  Maiden. 

The  idea  that  cropping  is  essential  to  the  breed  has  done 
much  to  retard  its  way  into  popular  favor.  Breeders  have 
given  no  attention  to  natural  ears,  and  have  rather  devel- 
oped coarse  ears  that  would  carry  well  when  cropped. 
There  is  no  more  reason  for  cropping  the  Black  and  Tan 
than  there  is  for  cropping  the  Fox  Terrier,  Pug,  Bulldog, 
and  other  breeds  that  not  many  years  ago  were  considered 
unsightly  with  their  natural  ears.  It  will  take  some  time  to 
breed  the  natural  ears  on  the  Black  and  Tan,  but  there  will 
be  every  inducement  for  breeders  to  strive  in  this  direction 
if  owners  will  be  satisfied  to  put  up  with  and  accustom 
themselves  to  the  uncropped  ears,  and  bench-show  judges 
will  follow  the  example  set  by  the  judge  of  this  breed  at  the 
New  York  show  of  1890,  in  giving  the  uncropped  dogs  an 
equal  chance,  and  perhaps  showing  them  more  favor  than 
he  did  the  cropped  dogs.  At  all  events,  a  Black  and  Tan 
with  good  natural  dropped  ears,  similar  to  those  of  a  Fox 
Terrier,  is  just  as  sprightly  in  appearance  as  is  this  Terrier; 
and  once  the  cropped  ears  go  out  of  fashion,  we  will  wonder 
why  cropping  was  ever  tolerated. 

It  is  not  surprising  that  in  a  breed  that  has  depended  so 
much  on  marks  as  has  the  Black  and  Tan,  it  is  difficult  to 


THE   BLACK   AND   TAN   TERRIER. 


493 


approach,  the  goal  of  perfection.  Few  specimens  develop 
with  anything  like  perfect  marks.  The  tendency  is  to  one 
or  more  of  the  following  faults:  Too  much  tan,  too  little 
tan,  indistinctness  of  outline  between  the  tan  and  the  black, 
tan  on  the  outside  of  the  hind  quarters,  tan  on  upper  sur- 
face of  the  ears;  and  while  tan  may  be  too  extensive  on 
some  parts,  it  may  be  wanting  in  others.  Another,  and 
perhaps  worse  fault,  is  white  under  the  breast;  and  in 


BLACK   AND    TAN    TERRIER— MEERSBROOK    MAIDEN. 
Owned  By  Dr.  H.  T.  Foote,    120  Lexington  avenue,  New  York  City. 

spite  of  all  efforts  to  breed  them  without  such  markings,  it 
will  appear  on  about  one  puppy  in  every  six  or  eight. 
Some  puppies  will  show  it  when  first  born,  and  it  will  dis- 
appear with  surprising  rapidity  within  a  fortnight,  while 
others  are  thus  blemished  for  life.  It  is  a  fault  that  is  con- 
sidered fatal  to  bench-show  form;  and  although  I  think  too 
much  stress  is  laid  upon  this  point,  it  is  undoubtedly  right 
to  consider  the  lack  of  proper  tan  markings  a  serious  defect. 
Much  has  been  said  and  written  about  the  faking  prac- 
ticed with  the  Black  and  Tan,  but  so  far  as  I  can  observe, 


494  THE   AMERICAN   BOOK   OF   THE  DOG. 

there  is  no  more  of  it  done  in  this  breed  than  in  most  others. 
Of  course,  where  correctness  of  markings  is  so  essential,  the 
closest  scrutiny  must  be  exercised  by  the  judge  to  detect 
fraudulent  practices. 

I  have  referred  in  this  writing  to  the  Black  and  Tan 
Terrier  proper,  whose  weight  ranges  from  about  seven  to 
twenty-two  pounds. 

The  following  is  the  latest  standard  of  points  of  the  Black 
and  Tan  Terrier,  as  set  forth  by  the  Black  and  Tan  Terrier 
Club  of  England: 

Head, — Should  be  narrow,  almost  flat,  with  a  slight 
indentation  up  the  forehead;  long  and  tight  -  skinned, 
level  in  mouth,  with  no  visible  cheek  muscles;  it  should  be 
slightly  wedge-shaped,  tapering  to  the  nose,  and  well  filled 
up  under  the  eyes  with  tight-lipped  jaws. 

Eyes. — Should  be  small,  bright,  and  sparkling,  set  mod- 
erately close  together,  as  near  black  as  possible,  oblong  in 
shape,  slanting  upward  on  the  outside;  they  shall  neither 
protrude  nor  sink  in  the  skull. 

Nose. — Should  be  perfectly  black. 

Ears.—  Should  be  button,  small,  and  thin;  small  at  the 
root,  and  set  as  close  together  as  possible  at  the  top  of  the 
head. 

Neck  and  shoulders. — The  neck  should  be  slim  and 
graceful,  gradually  becoming  larger  as  it  approaches  the 
shoulders,  and  perfectly  free  from  throatiness,  slightly 
arched  from  the  occiput.  The  shoulders  slope  off  elegantly. 

Chest. — Narrow  between  the  legs,  deep  in  the  brisket. 

Body. — Short,  with  powerful  loin,  ribs  well  sprung  out 
behind  the  shoulders,  the  back  being  slightly  arched  at  the 
loin,  and  falling  again  to  the  joining  of  the  tail  to  the  same 
height  as  the  shoulder. 

Legs. — Perfectly  straight,  and  well  under  the  body, 
strong,  and  of  proportionate  length. 

Feet.—  Compact,  split  up  between  the  toes,  and  well 
arched,  with  jet-black  nails;  the  two  middle  toes  of  the 
front  feet  rather  longer  than  the  others,  and  the  hind  feet 
shaped  like  those  of  a  cat. 


THE   BLACK   AND   TAN   TERRIER.  495 

Tail. — Should  be  moderately  short,  and  set  on  where 
the  arch  of  the  back  ends,  thick  where  it  joins  the  body, 
and  gracefully  tapering  to  a  point,  and  not  carried  higher 
than  the  loin. 

Goat. — Close,  short,  and  glossy,  not  soft. 

Color. — Black  and  tan  as  distinct  as  possible;  the  tan 
should  be  a  rich  mahogany  color;  a  tan  spot  over  each 
eye,  and  another  on  each  cheek,  the  latter  as  small  as  pos- 
sible; the  lips  of  the  upper  and  lower  jaws  should  be  tanned, 
the  tan  extending  under  the  jaw  to  the  throat,  ending  in 
the  shape  of  the  letter  V;  the  inside  of  the  ear  is  partly 
tanned;  the  fore  leg  is  tanned  to  the  knee,  with  a  black 
patch  ("thumb-mark")  between  the  pastern  and  the  knee; 
the  toes  have  a  distinct  black  mark  running  up  each,  called 
the  "  pencil-mark ;"  the  tan  on  the  hind  legs  should  con- 
tinue from  the  penciling  on  the  feet  up  the  inside  of  the 
legs  to  a  little  below  the  stifle-joint,  and  the  outside  of  the 
legs  should  be  perfectly  black.  There  should  be  tan  under 
the  tail  and  on  the  vent,  but  only  of  such  size  as  to  be 
covered  by  the  tail.  In  every  case,  the  tan  should  meet  the 
black  abruptly. 

Weight. — A  medium-sized  dog  should  not  exceed  four- 
teen pounds,  and  a  large-sized  twenty-two  pounds. 


THE  MALTESE  TERRIER. 

BY  Miss  A.  H.  WHITNEY. 


before  the  existence  of  other  "toy"  or 
exquisite  little  creature  was  the  ad- 
mired  companion  and  faithful  friend  of  the  ladies 
highest  in  rank  in  Greece.  Later,  when  Rome  ruled  the 
world,  he  continued  to  be  first  favorite  with  the  fair  sex. 
Historians  considered  him  worthy  of  mention,  sculptors 
carved  his  image,  he  was  the  darling  of  wealth  and  luxury; 
truly  a  "gentle  dogge,"  as  Doctor  Caius  describes  him.  In 
the  first  century  of  our  era,  Strabo  extols  his  beauty,  his 
diminutive  size,  the  esteem  in  which  he  was  held,  and  adds: 
"Yet  are  they  not  small  in  their  intelligence  or  unstable  in 
their  love."  What  a  pity  that  in  modern  times  the  dainty, 
quick-witted,  affectionate  little  Canis  Melitceus  should  be 
so  nearly  extinct,  so  little  known.  From  sturdy  Skye  to 
pampered  Blenheim,  Spaniels  owe  more  than  a  little  of 
their  beauty  to  a  cross,  more  or  less  remote,  with  the  Mal- 
tese; yet  it  is  now  well-nigh  impossible  to  obtain  a  really 
fine  specimen,  for  love  or  money. 

Malta  is  as  barren  of  them  as  America,  at  the  present 
time;  poor  ones,  indeed  average  specimens,  are  to  be  found 
both  in  the  East  and  West  Indies,  but  the  best  are  in  Eng- 
land, where  they  have  been  carefully  bred,  with  more  or  less 
success,  by  a  few  fanciers  during  the  past  forty  years.  Of 
course  unscrupulous  dealers  have  always  a  supply  of  long- 
haired little  mongrels,  glossy  white,  and  freshly  combed 
and  flat-ironed  into  smoothness  of  coat,  to  palm  off  upon 
the  unsuspecting  customer  in  search  of  a  "pure  Maltese;" 
but  anyone  who  has  seen  both  Poodles  and  Maltese  need  not 
be  imposed  upon.  Reclining  upon  his  cushion  by  the  side 
of  his  mistress,  a  pure-bred  little  Maltese  looks  more  like  a 

32  C497) 


498  THE  AMERICAN   BOOK   OF   THE   DOG. 

handful  of  brilliant  white  spun  silk  than  a  living  creature; 
but  pay  him  a  little  attention,  and  he  will  spring  to  his  feet, 
lift  his  fine,  short  ears,  and  hasten  to  show  you  how  keenly 
alive  and  alert  he  is,  from  the  black  tip  of  his  atom  of  a 
nose  to  the  waving  end  of  his  snowy  plume  of  a  tail.  As 
an  in-door  companion  of  rank  and  beauty  the  tiny  fellow  is 
peerless,  and  his  devotion  to  his  owner  is  absolute.  It  is 
said  that  the  faithful  pet  of  hapless  Mary,  Queen  of  Scots, 
found  at  her  feet  after  her  execution,  was  one  of  this  breed. 

Out  of  doors  he  is  sharp  and  full  of  frolic,  but  his  long 
coat  sadly  interferes  with  his  fun.  Then,  too,  he  is  not  as 
vigorous  in  constitution  as  dogs  of  common  clay,  and  is  very 
susceptible  to  cold  and  chills;  in  short,  he  pays  the  penalty 
of  living  in  the  boudoir.  A  cMen  de  luxe  emphatically,  he 
will  always  be  precious,  he  can  not  condescend  to  become 
popular;  and  as  for  his  utility,  why  demand  any  such  com- 
monplace quality  of  a  gem!  "Beauty  is  its  own  excuse 
for  being,"  and  truly  a  typical  Maltese  is  beautiful  when  in 
full  coat  and  well  groomed. 

Numberless  are  the  stories  of  the  quick-witted  devotion 
of  these  little  pets,  as  excitable  as  they  are  affectionate, 
and  as  sagacious  as  the  wisest  philosophers  of  dogdom. 
One  incident  worth  recounting  occurred  many  years  ago. 
A  baby  boy  was  asleep  in  an  upstairs  bedroom,  the  serv- 
ants in  the  kitchen,  and  the  master  and  mistress  at  a  pub- 
lic assembly.  Suddenly  the  gentleman's  attention  was 
attracted  by  the  unexpected  appearance  of  his  tiny  Maltese 
dog,  whom  he  supposed  was  safe  at  home.  The  little 
creature  was  in  a  frenzy  of  excitement,  barking,  whining, 
and  tugging  at  his  coat  as  if  to  pull  him  from  the  room. 
His  master,  trusting  to  the  sense  of  his  pet,  yielded  to  his 
frantic  entreaties,  and  allowed  himself  to  be  led  home,  the 
dog  jumping  up  and  barking  all  the  way.  Upon  reaching 
the  house,  it  was  found  that  a  candle  burning  by  the  bed- 
side of  the  baby  had  set  the  curtain  on  fire,  and  the  dog, 
after  rushing  down-stairs  and  calling  the  servants  to  the 
rescue,  had  made  his  way  out  of  doors  and  to  the  assembly 
rooms  in  search  of  his  master.  We  hope  that  dear  dog  lived 


THE   MALTESE  TERRIER.  499 

as  long  and  happily  as  Lady  Clifford's  wonderful  Bren- 
doline,  who  at  nineteen  years  of  age  enjoyed  good  health. 

One  little  four-pound  Maltese  was  so  fond  of  her  mistress 
that  she  would  make  incredible  efforts  to  keep  near  her, 
and  one  day  the  dauntless  creature  leaped  from  a  second- 
story  window  in  order  to  share  the  morning  drive. 

These  dogs  are  wonderfully  alert  watchmen,  and  not  a 
sound  escapes  their  keen  ears.  Like  their  relatives  the 
Poodles,  they  are  quick  to  acquire  tricks  and  eager  and 
proud  to  "show  off"  their  accomplishments. 


1  2  345 

MALTESE   TERRIERS. 

1.  Lord  Clyde,  prize-winner      2.  Queenie,  winner  of    many  prizes,   weight  three    pounds.     3.  Brendo- 

line,  over  nineteen  years  old.     4    Champion  Hugh,  winner  of  twenty-three  prizes,  weight  four 

pounds.     5.   Sir    Roger,  prize-winner.     6.  Blanche,  very  fine    in  head    and  coat.     Lord 

Clyde,  Sir  Roger,  and  Champion  Hugh  are  grandsons  of  Brendoline. 

To  Mr.  R.  Mandeville,  of  London,  Mr.  J.  Jacobs,  of  Ox- 
ford, and  more  recently  the  late  Lady  Gifford,  of  Red  Hill, 
and  Mrs.  Bligh  Monk,  of  Coley  Park,  are  we  indebted  for 
the  patient  and  persevering  breeding  which  has  produced 
the  best  modern  strains  of  the  Maltese  dog.  Indeed,  their 
specimens,  or  specimens  bred  by  them,  or  of  their  stock, 
are  tolerably  sure  to  ' '  sweep  the  board ' '  at  all  the  leading 
English  shows.  Here  in  America  the  breed  is  practically 
unknown.  I  doubt  whether  anyone  can  be  found  among 
our  impatient  fanciers  willing  to  keep  a  Maltese  more  than 


500  THE  AMERICAN   BOOK   OF  THE   DOG. 

two  years,  waiting  for  it  to  appear  in  full  coat;  but  four, 
and  often  five,  years  elapse  before  he  is  quite  furnished  and 
in  full  bloom. 

It  is  said  that  a  pair,  Cupid  and  Psyche,  were  brought 
from  the  East  Indies  at  great  expense,  in  1841,  by  Captain 
Lukey,  of  the  East  India  Company' s  service.  They  were 
purchased  to  present  to  the  Queen  of  England;  but  after  a 
rough  voyage  of  nine  months,  and  little  or  no  grooming, 
their  coats  were  so  matted  and  soiled  that  they  remained  in 
private  life,  and  never  knew  how  great  an  honor  they  had 
missed!  A  dog  needs  a  court  costume  as  much  as  a  man,  if 
he  is  to  be  presented  to  royalty. 

I  fear  the  lot  of  these  dainty  creatures  would  hardly  be 
a  happy  one  in  our  Northern  States,  save  in  the  palace 
homes  of  millionaires.  They  are  very  delicate  during  pup- 
pyhood,  and  the  litters  rarely  number  more  than  two  or 
three.  To  make  amends,  however,  when  they  do  live, 
nature  grants  them  a  remarkably  long  lease,  and  they  keep 
their  faculties  unimpaired  many  years  after  the  majestic 
Mastiff  and  the  noble  St.  Bernard  have  gone  to  their  long 
rest. 

For  in-door  pets  and  ladies'  companions  they  will  always 
be  desirable,  and  we  live  in  the  hope  of  seeing  some  good 
specimens  at  our  important  shows  ere  long.  Of  course  such 
precious  dogs  must  have  every  care.  During  their  first  year 
they  must  be  handled  like  our  "best  china,"  kept  from  all 
risk  of  cold,  fed  simple  food,  and  handled  but  little.  The 
less  meat  the  better;  bread,  and  a  scant  allowance  of  butter 
or  milk;  vegetables  and  gravy  make  the  best  diet.  Heat- 
ing food  spoils  the  beauty  of  the  coat,  and  causes  many 
internal  diseases.  Regularity  in  feeding  and  in  exercise  is 
of  vital  importance.  They  are  hardly  mature  under  two 
years  of  age,  but  if  they  survive  the  first  year  and  the  perils 
of  puppyhood,  become  fairly  strong  and  able  to  bear  ordi- 
nary exposure. 

As  the  coat  of  a  Maltese  is  his  greatest  beauty,  and 
exceedingly  liable  to  become  matted  or  soiled,  too  much 
attention  can  not  be  paid  to  it.  It  is  very  long,  sometimes 


THE   MALTESE  TERRIER.  501 

from  six  to  seven  inches  on  a  four-pound  dog,  perfectly 
straight,  glistening,  and  brilliant;  even  in  length,  from  tip 
of  nose  to  end  of  tail,  and  unless  parted  and  brushed  aside 
from  the  forehead  it  completely  hides  the  bright,  intelli- 
gent eyes.  Many  owners  braid  the  long  locks  and  tie  them 
back  with  ribbons  for  the  comfort  of  their  pets,  and  it  is 
not  uncommon  for  exhibitors  to  fasten  back  the  ears  at 
meal-times,  to  keep  the  hair  which  covers  them  from  being 
soiled  by  the  food.  Daily  grooming,  from  puppyhood,  is 
desirable,  but  nothing  harsher  than  a  soft  hair- brush  of 
good  quality  must  be  used.  The  best  time  for  this  is 
always  just  before  a  meal,  and  the  dog  will  enjoy  his  food 
the  more  for  his  toilet.  If  the  hair  is  matted  or  snarled,  it 
may  be  necessary  to  disentangle  the  knotted  locks  with  a 
pin  before  combing.  A  fine  comb  must  never  be  used,  as 
it  would  be  sure  to  do  harm,  but  a  coarse-toothed  one  saves 
time  and  aids  the  brush.  Some  exhibitors  are  so  anxious 
to  keep  their  pets  from  indulging  in  the  luxury  of  scratch- 
ing that  they  make  little  wash-leather  boots  for  the  hind 
legs,  so  that  the  nails  can  not  penetrate  the  skin  or  take  off 
a  single  hair.  We  do  not  recommend  the  use  of  these. 
Proper  diet  and  careful  daily  grooming  are  far  better  pre- 
cautions against  skin  irritation. 

The  Maltese  is  a  merry,  frolicsome  creature,  and  full  of 
vivacity.  Some  writers  accuse  him  of  snappishness;  but 
some  writers  call  all  dogs  snappish,  so  we  will  forgive  their 
ignorance  of  the  sweet  temper,  as  well  as  the  wonderful 
intelligence,  of  this  breed. 

As  an  in-door  pet,  companion,  and  watchman,  few  other 
"toy  "  dogs  can  compare  with  the  exquisite  tiny  Maltese. 
The  chief  objections  to  him  are  the  dangerous  delicacy  of 
his  constitution  and  the  care  required  to  keep  him  in  pre- 
sentable condition  as  to  his  jacket.  To  prepare  him  for 
exhibition  is  not  difficult,  if  he  has  been  dressed  regularly. 
Let  not  the  novice  think  an  all-over  "  tubbing  "  necessary. 
That  would  invite  a  severe  cold,  unless  given  by  an  experi- 
enced assistant.  Far  better  and  easier  is  the  egg-bath,  pre- 
pared and  applied  as  follows:  Break  two  fresh  eggs  in  a 


502  THE   AMERICAN   BOOK   OF  THE   DOG. 

hand-basin;  beat  them  sufficiently  to  mix  yelks  and  whites 
well,  add  a  gill  of  warm  water,  and  then  apply  with  a  soft, 
small  sponge,  or  the  hands,  working  it  thoroughly  and  gen- 
tly in  through  the  coat  to  the  skin,  beginning  at  the  head, 
and  carefully  avoiding  the  eyes  and  the  inside  of  the 
ears.  When  the  dog  is  well  lathered,  wash  off  with  tepid 
water  and  a  sponge,  but  no  soap,  as  you  value  the  brilliancy 
of  your  future  prize-winner's  jacket;  then  wrap  up  your 
pet  in  a  big  bath-towel,  wipe  him  dry  gently,  give  him  a 
good  meal,  and  do  not  think  of  combing  him  until  after  his 
nap.  A  hand-smoothing  makes  a  good  finish;  and  then 
beware  lest  the  little  dandy  catches  cold,  and  has  to  be  kept 
at  home  from  the  show  after  all.  A  quarter-grain  pill  of 
quinine  night  and  morning  before  feeding,  continued  for 
three  days,  will  usually  put  him  in  good  health  and  spirits 
and  enable  him  to  throw  off  the  threatened  illness.  Of 
course  no  one  interested  in  this  valuable  and  delicate 
breed  will  be  so  unwise  as  to  exhibit  puppies,  no  matter 
how  promising.  For  them  uthe  paths  of  glory  lead  but  to 
the  grave." 

The  points  of  a  Maltese,  according  to  the  present  stand- 
ard of  judging,  are  as  follows: 

Value.  Value. 

Skull,  muzzle,  and  nose 5    Coat 10 

Eyes 3    Color 10 

Ears 7    General  appearance  and  size 5 

Body  and  legs 5 

Tail ...     5  Total 50 

The  skull  is  somewhat  broad  and  slightly  rounding,  but 
not  like  that  of  Toy  Spaniels,  the  muzzle  tapering  gradually 
to  the  jet-black  little  nose. 

The  eyes  should  be  of  fair  size,  neither  prominent  like 
those  of  the  King  Charles  and  Pug,  nor  very  small  and  deep- 
set.  Brilliant  and  black  they  must  be,  and  the  roof  of  the 
mouth  is  of  the  same  color. 

The  jaws  are  level,  and  the  teeth  good  enough  for  a 
Terrier. 

The  ears  are  small,  thin,  and  fall  close  to  the  head. 
When  excited,  the  dog  lifts  them  a  little. 


THE   MALTESE   TERRIER.  503 

The  body  is  rather  long,  deep- chested,  level  in  back,  mus- 
cular, and  well  knit. 

The  legs  are  shortish,  straight,  strong,  and  barefooted. 

The  tail,  an  exquisite  little  white  plume,  is  carried  grace- 
fully curving  over  the  side  and  back. 

The  coat,  the  all-important,  must  be  long — the  longer  the 
better — from  seven  to  eleven  inches  on  a  dog  standing  no 
more  than  seven  inches  high  at  shoulder,  and  as  soft  and 
silky  as  nature  and  art  can  make  it;  dazzlingly  brilliant  and 
snowy  white.  Lemon  markings  sometimes  occur  upon  the 
ears,  but  they  are  a  disqualification,  even  on  the  best  speci- 
mens, and  even  worse  than  any  tendency  to  curl  in  the 
coat. 

The  weight  should  not  exceed  seven  pounds,  and  many 
prize-winners  are  under  five. 

It  may  interest  our  readers  to  study  the  accompanying 
group  of  the  creme  de  la  creme  of  Maltese  prize-winners, 
owned  by  the  late  Lady  Gifford,  of  England.  The  illustra- 
tion is  taken  from  a  photograph  from  life. 

Tiny  little  Brendoline  was  a  wonder,  as  frisky  and  strong 
at  nineteen  years  of  age  as  most  dogs  are  at  four.  She  was 
the  dam  and  grandam  of  many  prize-winners.  Lord 
Clyde  and  Sir  Roger  are  exquisite  specimens,  and  well 
known  on  the  show  bench.  Sir  Roger  is  rather  the  better 
in  head  and  coat,  and  strongly  resembles  the  famous  Cham- 
pion Hugh.  Queenie  is  a  tiny,  charming  atom  of  three 
pounds  weight,  the  sister  of  Hugh,  and  probably  the  small- 
est of  her  breed  yet  exhibited.  Champion  Hugh  was 
whelped  in  1875,  and  first  shown  in  1877,  at  the  Royal 
Aquarium,  where  he  won  second  prize.  His  career  was  a 
series  of  triumphs  from  that  time  on  until  his  death.  He 
took  his  twenty-third  and  last  prize  at  the  Crystal  Palace, 
July,  1885,  and  died  in  that  year,  after  a  very  brief  illness. 
He  was  devotedly  attached  to  his  mistress,  and  never  happy 
in  her  absence. 

His  proportions  and  measurements  are  worth  knowing. 
We  quote  them  from  Cassell'  s  '  *  Book  of  the  Dog: ' '  ' '  From 
nose  to  stop,  one  inch;  stop  to  top  of  skull,  two  and  one- 


504 


THE   AMERICAN    BOOK    OF   THE   DOG. 


half  inches;  length  of  back,  eight  inches;  girth  of  muzzle, 
four  inches;  girth  of  skull,  nine  inches;  girth  of  neck,  seven 
inches;  girth  of  brisket,  eleven  and  one-half  inches;  girth 
round  shoulders,  eleven  inches;  girth  of  loins,  nine  inches; 
girth  of  fore-arm,  two  and  one-half  inches;  girth  of  pastern, 
one  and  three-fourths  inches;  height  at  shoulders,  seven  and 
one-half  inches;  height  at  elbows,  four  inches;  height  at 
loins,  seven  and  one-fourth  inches;  length  of  tail,  five  inches; 
hair  on  tail,  seven  inches;  length  of  coat,  eleven  inches; 
length  of  ear,  with  hair,  seven  and  one-half  inches;  weight, 
four  pounds  and  ten  ounces." 


THE  COLLIE. 


BY  HENRY  JARRETT  AND  J.  E.  DOUGHERTY. 


>HE  origin  of  the  Collie,  like  that  of  most  other  breeds 
of  dogs,  is  unknown.  Many  different  theories  have 
been  advanced  by  various  writers  on  the  subject,  most 
of  them,  however,  being  without  any  foundation.  The 
theory  offered  by  Hugh  Dalziel,  in  his  excellent  work  on 
the  Collie,  is  that  the  breed  is  the  result  of  selection 
carried  on  through  a  long  series  of  years,  and  this  is  no 
doubt  as  near  the  truth  as  we  may  ever  expect  to  get.  The 
name  Collie  is  supposed  to  have  been  derived  from  the 
same  root  as  collar,  and  to  refer  to  the  white  collar  or  band 
around  the  dog's  neck.  The  Collie  is  probably  the  most 
useful  of  all  our  non-sporting  dogs.  Many  authentic  in- 
stances are  recorded  showing  the  almost  human  intelligence 
of  these  dogs  in  the  execution  of  their  duties  in  driving  and 
herding  sheep  and  cattle;  in  fact,  it  is  well-nigh  impossi- 
ble to  overestimate  the  intelligence  of  a  well-trained  Collie. 

Besides  being  indispensable  to  the  farmer,  they  make 
most  excellent  watch-dogs  and  companions,  and  may  also 
be  trained  for  retrieving  game,  both  on  land  and  from  the 
water. 

Although  much  has  been  done  in  this  country  to  encour- 
age the  breeding  of  show  dogs,  the  working  qualities  of 
this  breed  have  been  sadly  neglected,  and  it  is  to  be  regret- 
ted that  sheep-dog  trials  have  never  been  encouraged  here. 
There  are  plenty  of  well-trained  dogs  in  the  United  States, 
and  if  trials  were  once  established  they  would  soon  become 
popular.  There  are  numerous  trials  held  in  England  every 
year  for  sheep  dogs,  which  are  invariably  successful,  and 
which  act  as  reminders  to  breeders  that  Collies  are  sheep 


dogs. 


C505) 


506  THE   AMERICAN   BOOK  OF   THE   DOG. 

The  importation  of  so  many  first-class  specimens  by  the 
Chestnut  Hill  Kennels,  of  Philadelphia,  has  been  a  great 
assistance  to  American  breeders,  and  has  done  much  toward 
raising  the  breed  to  its  present  popularity.  I  know  of  no 
breed  that  has  advanced  so  rapidly  in  public  favor  in 
America  as  has  the  Collie.  I  am  often  asked  why  nothing- 
has  yet  been  bred  in  America  to  equal  the  best  of  the 
imported  dogs.  The  reason  is  that  there  are  very  few 
really  first-class  brood  bitches  in  this  country.  We  have 
some  of  the  best  stud  dogs  in  the  world,  and  what  we  need 
now  is  a  large  number  of  good  brood  bitches.  Many  people 
seem  to  attach  no  importance  to  the  quality  or  breeding  of 
the  bitch,  so  long  as  they  have  a  good  dog  to  breed  to.  In 
England  you  will  find  at  least  a  hundred  first-class  bitches 
to  one  in  this  country,  and  this  means  so  many  more  thor- 
oughly good  puppies. 

There  is  generally  one  extra-good  one  in  each  well-bred 
litter,  and  that  one  frequently  dies  before  reaching  matur- 
ity. This  being  the  case,  it  will  easily  be  understood  that 
America  can  not  compete  successfully  with  England  in  breed- 
ing €ollies  until  the  number  of  our  brood  bitches  is  largely 
increased  by  importation. 

The  fault  to  be  found  with  most  American -bred  Collies 
is  a  want  of  character  and  "Collie  expression." 

The  best  Collie  ever  bred  in  this  country  was  probably 
Glenlinat,  by  Strephon,  out  of  Mavis.  He  was  bred  by  Mr. 
A.  R.  Kyle,  of  Sound  Beach,  Conn.,  and  was  a  very  fine 
specimen  of  the  breed.  He  won  first  prize  at  Winsted  in 
1886,  and  gave  considerable  promise  of  making  a  great  name 
for  himself,  but  was,  unfortunately,  killed  on  the  railroad  by 
a  passing  locomotive  while  he  was  at  exercise.  Mavis  is 
one  of  our  few  good  brood  bitches.  She  is  now  owned  by 
Mr.  James  Watson,  of  Philadelphia,  who  is  one  of  our  best 
Collie  judges.  Unfortunately,  good  Collie  judges  are,  like 
good  Collie  brood  bitches,  rather  scarce. 

The  most  difficult  point  to  produce  is  a  good  coat,  and 
in  spite  of  all  that  has  been  written  to  the  contrary,  there  is 
no  danger  at  present  of  our  breeding  Collies  with  coat  so 


THE   COLLIE.  507 

heavy  as  to  interfere  with  their  movements  while  working. 
A  great  many  writers  seern  to  think  that  the  Collie  when 
working  has  always  to  contend  with  a  blizzard,  or  a  mud 
pond,  and  that  if  his  coat  is  long  the  snow  or  mud  will 
cling  to  him  in  such  quantities  as  to  soon  tire  him  out. 
This,  however,  is  the  exception  rather  than  the  rule,  and 
the  texture  of  the  coat  is  of  much  more  importance  than  its 
length.  The  most  important  point  is  the  under  coat. 


CHAMPION    SCOTILLA. 

Owned  by  Chestnut  Hill  Kennels,  Philadelphia,  Penn.     Winner  of  forty-two  firsts,  champions, 

and  cups. 

Although  color  is  immaterial,  the  sable  with  white  points 
is  at  present  the  most  fashionable.  In  the  early  days  of 
shows,  black  and  tan  was  considered  the  best  color,  and  to 
improve  the  color  of  the  tan  markings'  it  is  said  that  the 
Gordon  Setter  blood  was  introduced,  which  would  account 
for  the  large  saddle-flap  ears  and  soft,  open  coat  frequently 
found  in  dogs  of  this  color. 

It  is  probable  that  we  shall  soon  have  a  strain  of  pure 
white  Collies,  several  having  recently  been  bred  in  England; 
and  the  Chestnut  Hill  Kennels  have  two  white  puppies  by 
Metchley  Wonder.  These  white  Collies  are  pretty,  but  do 


508  THE   AMERICAN    BOOK    OF   THE   DOG. 

not  look  like  workers,  and  for  this  reason  will  probably 
never  become  popular. 

The  dog  selected  for  illustration  is  Champion  Scotilla, 
owned  by  the  Chestnut  Hill  Kennels,  Philadelphia.  He  was 
whelped" October  28, 1885,  and  is  by  Dublin  Scot-Flurry  II. 
He  was  imported  in  1887,  and  has  won  over  forty  cham- 
pion prizes.  He  is  the  sire  of  a  large  number  of  first-prize 
winners,  and  is  considered  the  best  Collie  in  the  country. 

H.  J. 

The  rough-coated  Collie  is  one  of  the  oldest  breeds  of 
dogs  in  existence.  He  is  the  true  "sheep dog,"  from  which, 
no  doubt,  all  other  "shepherd"  dogs  derived  their  origin. 

Beauty,  intelligence,  and  usefulness  are  all  to  be  counted 
in  the  highest  degree  to  his  credit.  The  marvelous  stories 
told  of  his  sagacity  and  cunning  are  almost  incredible,  and 
yet  it  does  not  seem  so  strange  when  we  take  into  considera- 
tion that  he  has  been  in  training,  and  the  constant  companion 
of  the  shepherd,  for  hundreds  of  years.  No  other  dog  is  so 
constantly  with  his  master  in  his  proper  calling.  This  nat- 
urally increases  the  intelligence  of  each  individual,  and 
reacts  on  the  whole  breed;  so  that,  independent  of  the  con- 
<stant  weeding  out  of  puppies  which  were  useless  from  lack 
of  intelligence,  the  superiority  of  the  whole  variety  in 
mental  attributes  is  easily  accounted  for. 

There  is  no  authentic  history  as  to  the  origin  of  the  Col- 
lie. He  was  supposed  by  some  authors  to  have  been  bred 
from  the  wild  dog,  or  Dingo,  whose  form  he  strongly 
resembles.  This  theory  is  a  plausible  one,  as  his  fine  muzzle, 
dense  coat,  carriage  of  tail  and  ear,  and  his  restless  habits 
are  not  unlike  those  of  the  wild  dog,  the  wolf,  and  the  fox. 

Following  is  the  Collie  standard  and  scale  of  points 
adopted  by  the  English  Collie  Club  and  the  Collie  Club  of 
America: 

Value.  Value. 

Head  and  expression 15    Back  and  loin 10 

Ears 10    Brush 5 

Neck  and  shoulders 10    Coat,  with  frill 20 

Legs  and  feet 15    Size  5 

Hind  quarters 10 

Total..  .100 


THE   COLLIE.  509 

The  skull  of  the  Collie  should  be  quite  flat  and  rather 
broad,  with  fine,  tapering  muzzle  of  fair  length,  and  mouth 
slightly  overshot. 

The  eyes  widely  apart,  almond-shaped,  and  obliquely  set 
in  the  head;  the  skin  of  the  head  tightly  drawn,  with  no 
folds  at  the  corner  of  the  mouth. 

The  ears  as  small  as  possible,  semi-erect  when  surprised 
or  listening,  at  other  times  thrown  back  and  buried  in  the 
"ruff." 

The  neck  should  be  long,  arched,  and  muscular.  The 
shoulders  also  long,  sloping,  and  fine  at  the  withers.  The 
chest  to  be  deep  and  narrow  in  front,  but  of  fair  breadth 
behind  the  shoulders. 

The  back  to  be  short  and  level,  with  the  loin  rather  long, 
somewhat  arched,  and  powerful. 

Brushing,  "wf  upward  swirl"  at  the  end,  and  nor- 
mally carried  low. 

The  fore  legs  should  be  perfectly  straight,  with  a  fair 
amount  of  flat  bone;  the  pasterns  rather  long,  springy,  and 
slightly  lighter  of  bone  than  the  rest  of  the  leg;  the  foot 
with  toes  well  arched  and  compact,  soles  very  thick. 

The  hind  quarters,  drooping  slightly,  should  be  very  long 
from  the  hip-bones  to  the  hocks,  which  should  be  neither 
turned  inward  nor  outward,  with  stifles  well  bent.  The  hip- 
bones should  be  wide  and  rather  ragged. 

The  coat,  except  on  legs  and  head,  should  be  as  abundant 
as  possible,  the  outer  coat  straight,  hard,  and  rather  stiff; 
the  under  coat  furry,  and  so  dense  that  it  would  be  difficult 
to  find  the  skin.  The  ' '  ruff ' '  and  ' '  frill ' '  especially  should 
be  very  full.  There  should  be  but  little  ' '  feather  ' '  on  the 
fore  legs,  and  none  below  the  hocks  on  the  hind  legs.  Color 
immaterial. 

Symmetry. — The  dog  should  be  of  fair  length  on  the 
leg,  and  his  movements  wiry  and  graceful.  He  should  not 
be  too  small;  height  of  dogs  from  twenty-two  to  twenty- 
four  inches,  of  bitches  from  twenty  to  twenty-two  inches. 

The  Greyhound  type  is  objectionable,  as  it  gives  little 
brain-room  in  the  skull,  and  with  this  there  is  to  be  found 


510  THE   AMERICAN   BOOK   OF   THE   DOG. 

a  fatuous  expression  and  a  long,  powerful  jaw.  The  Setter 
type  is  also  to  be  avoided,  with  its  pendulous  ears  and 
straight,  short  flag. 

The  smooth  Collie  only  differs  from  the  rough  in  the 
coat,  which  should  be  hard,  dense,  and  quite  smooth. 

Point-judging  is  not  advocated,  but  figures  are  only  made 
use  of  to  show  the  comparative  value  attached  to  the  differ- 
ent properties;  no  marks  are  given  for  "general  sym- 
metry," which  is,  of  course,  in  judging,  a  point  of  the 
utmost  importance. 

"  Color  immaterial,"  as  placed  in  the  standard,  although 
virtually  correct,  is  somewhat  misleading.  In  these  days 
of  scientific  breeding,  nothing  seems  impossible,  and  by 
careful  selection  as  to  color,  almost  any  color  may  be  pro- 
duced. After  a  careful  study  of  the  subject,  and  several 
years  of  breeding,  the  writer  has  formed  the  opinion  that 
the  following  colors  are  essential,  and  can  not  be  looked 
upon  with  any  suspicion  of  a  cross:  Black,  white,  and  tan, 
sable,  sable  and  white,  red  foxy  colors,  and,  in  fact,  all 
the  shades  of  tan,  and  colors  formed  by  the  mingling  of 
the  above  colors.  It  is  a  well-known  fact  that  nearly  or 
quite  all  of  the  greatest  prize-winners  and  most  typical 
specimens  of  the  breed  are  of  these  colors. 

The  Collie  is  affectionate  and  obedient,  is  extremely  sen- 
sitive, and  will  seldom  bear  punishment  without  becoming 
sulky.  When  once  you  gain  his  confidence,  he  will  obey 
your  commands  at  all  times  without  restraint  or  compul- 
sion. A  large  per  cent,  of  Collies  are  gun-shy,  and  afraid 
of  thunder.  There  is  a  peculiar  craf ty  and  cunning  look 
about  the  Collie  possessed  by  no  other  species  of  the  canine 
race. 

He  is  a  faithful  companion,  and  a  watchful  guardian  of 
his  master's  property.  He  is  the  ideal  farm-dog,  and  has 
no  equal  in  that  capacity.  Except  for  the  Collie,  much  of 
the  highlands  of  Scotland  and  England  would  be  absolutely 
worthless.  The  sheep  graze  where  a  man  can  not  follow  to 
advantage.  A  trained  Collie  will  take  out  a  flock  of  sheep 
in  the  morning,  remain  with  them  during  the  day,  and 


THE   COLLIE. 


611 


bring  them  home  to  the  fold  at  night,  alone  and  unaided. 
The  Collie  will  work  on  cattle  and  hogs  as  well  as  on  sheep, 
and  can  be  taught  to  herd  all  kinds  of  poultry. 

He  makes  a  capital  retriever,  has  a  fair  nose,  and  with 
proper  training  becomes  a  tolerable  hunter.  He  is  quick 
to  attack  and  kill  all  kinds  of  vermin. 


BOSS. 
Owned  by  J.  E.  Dougherty,  Lotus,  Ind. 

The  training  of  the  Collie  for  all  kinds  of  farm -work  is 
not  a  difficult  matter.  As  soon  as  the  whelp  is  old  enough 
to  leave  the  nest  and  follow  the  dam,  it  will  be  " tagging" 
after  her  to  the  field  to  bring  up  the  stock,  and  in  a  few 
short  weeks  the  little  fellow  will  go  to  the  field  alone.  It 
is  then  necessary  to  curb  him,  to  teach  him  to  come  and  go 
at  your  bidding.  The  most  effectual  plan  to  get  complete 
control  is  to  attach  a  light  cord,  of  sufficient  length,  to  the 
collar,  and  when  the  puppy  goes  too  rapidly,  pull  him  up 
sharply,  and  at  the  same  time  give  the  command  "Slow." 


512  THE   AMERICAN   BOOK    OF   THE  DOG. 

A  few  repetitions  of  this  will  teach,  him  to  stop  at  the  word. 
A  Collie  instinctively  chases  sheep,  and  although  not  hurt- 
ing them,  will  run  a  flock  to  death.  He  must  be  taught  to 
drive,  not  chase.  Teach  him  to  go  slow  by  the  use  of  the 
cord;  be  patient  and  painstaking  in  this  work,  and  you 
will  surely  be  rewarded. 

It  is  necessary  to  use  gestures  when  giving  commands, 
and  in  a  short  time  the  dog  will  obey  the  motion  of  the 
hand.  This  is  advantageous  in  case  of  a  strong  wind,  or  of 
the  noise  made  by  a  herd,  or  of  the  dog  being  too  far  away 
to  hear  the  word  of  command.  It  should  be  considered  the 
work  of  several  weeks  or  months  to  properly  train  a  puppy; 
but  remember  that  he  is  likely  to  live  many  years,  and 
hence  it  will  pay  you  to  lay  the  foundation  of  your  teach- 
ings on  solid  principles — to  keep  him  close  in  hand  till  your 
precepts  are  deeply  grounded,  and  not  to  discharge  him 
until  you  are  sure  that  his  education  is  complete,  and  of  a 
lasting  character. 

The  rearing  of  the  Collie  does  not  require  any  different 
treatment  from  that  necessary  in  the  case  of  other  canines, 
except  in  the  care  of  the  coat.  In  the  summer  season,  he 
should  be  washed  at  least  once  a  week.  When  shedding 
his  coat,  the  dead  loose  hair  should  be  kept  well  combed 
out,  otherwise  it  may  become  "  fleece-grown. "  Keep  the 
skin  clean,  and  the  new  coat  will  grow  vigorously.  The  dog 
should  have  a  cool,  dark  place  to  lie  in,  away  from  the  flies, 
during  the  day.  An  old  piece  of  carpet  or  bagging  to  lie 
on  is  sufficient  for  a  bed.  Straw,  shavings,  or  any  kind  of 
litter,  is  a  harbor  for  fleas,  and  hangs  to  the  coat. 

In  winter,  the  dog  requires  less  care.  Cold  does  not  seem 
to  affect  him  in  the  least,  and  he  delights  to  roll  and  bur- 
row in  the  deepest  snow-banks,  thus  cleansing  and  adding 
luster  to  his  coat.  A  Collie  that  has  been  kept  as  above 
directed,  and  that  has  been  habitually  well  fed  on  whole- 
some food,  may  be  considered  at  any  time,  after  receiving  a 
good  combing  and  brushing,  as  ready  for  the  show  bench. 

The  Collie  is  constantly  growing  in  favor,  not  only  with 
stockmen  and  farmers,  but  with  lovers  of  the  dog  every- 


THE   COLLIE.  513 

where,  and  we  predict  for  this  noble  breed  a  brilliant 
future.  In  Europe,  he  has  been  transplanted  from  the  hut 
of  the  Gillie  to  the  palace,  and  has  become  (to  use  the 
words  of  a  well-known  English  breeder)  "  the  gentleman' s 
dog."  The  credit  is  due  to  England  for  breeding  the  Collie 
up  to  its  present  high  standard,  but  America  is  not  far 
behind  in  this  matter.  The  Collie  has  a  strong  hold  in  the 
States,  and  numbers  among  his  friends  men  of  wealth  and 
influence,  who  strive  to  obtain  the  best  specimens,  regard- 
less of  price.  It  is  not  an  uncommon  thing  to-day  to  see 
the  Collie  on  the  plains  of  the  Far  West,  following  the 
"bands"  of  sheep,  guarding  and  protecting  them  from  the 
hungry  coyote;  and  when  his  qualities  are  better  known, 
every  farmer  in  our  country  will  be  the  happy  possessor  of 
one  of  these  faithful  animals. 

The  following  are  the  names  of  a  few  of  the  Collie 
breeders  and  exhibitors  in  America: 

Hempstead  Farm  Kennels,  Hempstead,  Long  Island,  N. 
Y. ;  Chestnut  Hill  Kennels,  Philadelphia,  Penn. ;  J.  Van 
Schaick,  32  Broad  street,  New  York;  James  Watson,  114 
Seymore  street,  Germantown,  Penn.;  J.  D.  Shotwel,  Rail- 
way, N.  J. ;  James  Lindsay,  Jersey  City,  N.  J. ;  J.  A. 
Long,  St.  Louis,  Mo. ;  Sans  Souci  Kennels,  Station  B,  Phil- 
adelphia, Penn.;  J.  L.  Lincoln,  Jr.,  Wabash  avenue,  Chi- 
cago, 111. ;  George  A.  Fletcher,  Milton,  Mass. ;  A.  R.  Kyle, 
South  Norwalk,  Conn.;  McEwen  &  Gibson,  Byron,  Canada; 
Meadowthorpe  Kennels,  Lexington,  Ky. ;  Curry  &  Parks, 
Season,  111.;  W.  A.  Burpee  & 'Co.,  Philadelphia,  Penn.; 
Dr.  T.  A.  Cloud,  Kennett  Square,  Penn.;  J.  P.  and  W.  W. 
Gray,  Rochester,  N.  Y.;  L.  C.  Root,  Stamford,  Conn.;  F. 
D.  Proctor,  Proctor,  Yt. ;  Kilmarnock  Collie  Kennels,  Bos- 
ton, Mass. ;  D.  Q.  Curry,  Decatur,  Mich. ;  C.  G.  Hinkley, 
Lee,  Mass.;  John  D.  Dunnin,  Montreal,  Canada;  W.  D. 
Hughes,  Wayne,  Delaware  County,  Penn. ;  Long  Island 
Kennels,  354  Fourth  street,  New  York  City;  F.  R.  Cars- 
well,  101  West  Sixth  street,  Wilmington,  Del.;  Orange 
Kennels,  81  Maiden  Lane,  New  York  City,  John  S.  Bacon, 
612  East  Seventeenth  street,  New  York  City;  A.  R.  Kyle, 

33 


514  THE  AMERICAN   BOOK   OF  THE   DOG. 

Norwalk,  Conn.;  Mrs.  William  Yardly,  Newton,  Conn.; 
Dr.  H.  S.  Quinn,  Utica,  N.  Y.;  J.  S.  Rogers,  Paterson,  N. 
J.;  Y.  S.  Kennedy,  Auburn  Park,  111.;  Schoellkopf  &  Co., 
Niagara  Falls,  N.  Y. 

Boss  (A.  K.  C.  S.  B.  12656),  the  subject  of  illustration, 
is  a  black-and-tan  Collie  owned  by  the  writer;  was  whelped 
August  15,  1886;  is  a  large,  upstanding  dog,  weighing 
seventy  pounds;  has  abundance  of  coat,  the  outer  coat  long 
and  hard;  has  a  long,  lean  head,  good  expression,  ears  a 
trifle  large,  but  correctly  carried.  He  is  a  grand  specimen, 
and  shows  a  deal  of  Collie  character;  yet,  like  many  other 
good  ones,  he  has  his  faults.  He  lacks  finish,  is  a  little  too 
straight  in  the  stifle,  and  for  the  latest  craze  would  be  con- 
sidered a  little  coarse.  He  was  sired  by  Donald  III.,  by 
Long's  Rob  Roy,  out  of  Bessie  B.,  by  Champion  Cocksie, 
out  of  Belle  III.;  dam,  Zella  (A.  K.  C.  S.  B.  11696). 

-  Boss  has  never  been  shown  outside  of  his  own  State; 
has  won  three  firsts  in  the  pet-stock  shows  held  at  Indian- 
apolis and  Richmond,  and  won  the  two  special  premiums 
(1889  and  1890)  offered  by  J.  Van  Schaick  for  the  best 
Collie  bred  and  owned  in  Indiana.  J.  E.  D. 


THE  OLD  ENGLISH  SHEEP  DOG. 


BY  WILLIAM  WADE. 


is  more  promising  for  the  future  position  of 
dogs  of  actual  usefulness  than  the  recent  revival 
of  interest  in  this  breed.  They  are  not  handsome 
dogs,  by  any  means;  and  that  such  uncompromisingly 
ugly  customers  are  becoming  fashionable,  demonstrates 
that  real  value  for  practical  purposes  is  being  recognized. 
They  are  one  of  the  oldest  of  breeds,  and  certainly  with- 
out a  superior  in  value  as  farm -working  dogs;  yet  they 
were  so  neglected  for  many  years  that  the  breed  was  almost 
lost. 

That  they  are  a  very  old  breed  is  shown  by  references 
to  them  by  early  English  writers.  G.  R.  Jesse  quotes  from 
the  "Passionate  Pilgrim  : " 

My  curtail  dog  that  wont  to  have  play'd, 
Plays  not  at  all,  but  seems  afraid. 

And  from  "  Merry  Wives  of  Windsor:  " 

Hope  is  a  curtail  dog  in  some  affairs. 

In  Drayton,  Tenth  Eclogue,  these  exquisite  lines  occur: 

He  called  his  dog  (that  sometimes  had  the  praise) 
Whitefoot,  well  known  to  all  that  keep  the  plain, 

That  many  a  wolf  had  worried  in  his  days — 
A  better  cur  there  never  followed  swain; 

Which,  though  as  he  his  master's  sorrows  knew, 

Wagg'd  his  cut  tail  his  wretched  plight  to  rue. 

Poor  cur,  quoth  he,  and  him  therewith  did  stroke, 

Go  to  our  cote  and  there  thyself  repose; 
Thou  with  thine  age  my  heart  with  sorrow  broke. 

Begone  ere  death  my  restless  eyes  do  close; 
The  time  is  come  thou  must  thy  master  leave, 
Whom  this  vile  world  shall  never  more  deceive. 

(515) 


516  THE  AMERICAN   BOOK   OF  THE  DOG. 

These  lines  were  written  about  the  year  1600,  and  show 
that  at  that  time  dogs  with  short  or  cut  tails  were  well 
known. 

In  Marryat's  "Mr.  Midshipman  Easy,"  written  about 
1835,  Bobtails  are  introduced  as  a  factor  in  the  naming  of 
that  distinguished  hero.  Mrs.  Easy  wishes  to  call  the  boy 
after  Mr.  Easy  (Nicodemus),  but  papa  objects. 

"As  there  will  be  two  Nicks,  they  will  naturally  call  my 
boy  Young  Nick,  and  of  course  I  shall  be  styled  Old  Nick, 
which  will  be  diabolical." 

Then  when  Mrs.  Easy  selects  Robert,  Mr.  Easy  inter- 
poses : 

"I  can  not  bear  even  the  supposition,  my  dear. 
You  forget  that  in  the  county  in  which  you  are  residing 
the  downs  are  covered  with  sheep.  I  will  appeal  to  any 
farmer  in  the  country,  if  ninety-nine  shepherd' s  dogs  out 
of  one  hundred  are  not  called  Bob.  Now  observe,  your 
child  is  out  of  doors,  somewhere  in  the  fields  or  plantations; 
you  want  and  you  call  him.  Instead  of  your  child,  what 
do  you  find?  Why,  a  dozen  curs,  at  least,  who  come  run- 
ning up  to  you,  all  answering  to  the  name  of  Bob,  and 
wagging  their  stumps  of  tails." 

Marryat  was  a  close  observer  of  dogs,  mentioning  many 
breeds,  and  always  associating  them  with  their  own  pecul- 
iarities and  vocations. 

How  the  Scotch  Collie  came  to  supplant  the  original 
English  Sheep  Dog  is  well  described  by  Mr.  F.  Freeman 
Lloyd,  in  his  admirable  monograph  on  Bob tails>  originally 
published  in  the  columns  of  Turf,  Field,  and  Farm,  and 
by  that  paper  published  in  very  handsome  pamphlet  form. 
To  this  I  would  refer  all  inquirers  for  more  minute  partic- 
ulars as  to  Bobtails,  merely  confining  myself  to  general 
statements  that  Mr.  Lloyd  seems  to  have  somewhat  over- 
looked. 

As  to  the  appearance  of  Bobtails,  it  may  be  said  that  they 
average  about  the  same  as  the  Collie  in  size,  being  gener- 
ally much  more  cobby  in  build,  with  immense  power  in 
their  hind  quarters,  and  not  infrequently  higher  behind 


THE   OLD   ENGLISH   SHEEP   DOG. 


517 


than  at  the  shoulder.  The  head  should  be  somewhat 
pointed,  but  nothing  like  that  of  the  Collie  in  either  length 
or  narrowness;  the  ears  should  be  small,  set  on  fairly  high, 
and  easily  raised.  There  are  two  varieties  of  coats,  the 
single  and  double,  which  perhaps  might  be  better  denned 
as  the  short  and  the  very  heavy  ones.  Fashion,  or  the 
weight  of  authority,  undoubtedly  has  gone  for  the  very 
profuse  double  coat,  although  it  is  admitted  that  the  other 
type  is  equally  characteristic  of  the  old  breed.  The  heav- 


TaiHHb-;- 

OLD    ENGLISH    SHEEP    DOG— SIR  CAVENDISH 

ily  coated  legs,  clear  down  to  the  feet,  and  the  densely 
coated  face,  are  also  the  "correct  type,"  but  although  the 
authorities  have  so  decreed,  I  must  dissent  most  strongly 
from  the  desirability  of  either  characteristic.  The  densely 
coated  legs  can  not  but  collect  mud,  snow,  and  slush,  and 
seriously  impede  the  dog  in  his  work.  Any  shepherd  will 
tell  you  that  the  same  holds  good  with  sheep;  that  those 
with  heavily  wooled  legs  clear  down  to  their  feet  tire  much 
more  quickly  than  the  cleaner-legged  ones.  The  useless 
hair  of  the  face  can  only  collect  the  ice  and  snow  of  a 
winter  storm  to  distract  the  dog's  vision. 

The  absence  of  tail  is  the  special  characteristic  of  this 


518  THE  AMERICAN   BOOK   OF   THE   DOG. 

breed,  and  in  the  best-bred  specimens  it  is  not  a  stump  or 
a  short  tail,  but  absolutely  no  tail  at  all,  the  extremity  of 
the  spine  being  free  from  any  lump  or  vestige  of  a  tail. 
Half,  or  even  whole  tails  are  not  at  all  uncommon,  even  in 
well-bred  litters,  but  this  is  to  be  attributed  to  a  cross  of 
foreign  blood  at  some  period;  and  these  long- tailed  puppies, 
mated  with  others  naturally  long-tailed,  will  throw  short- 
tailed  or  tailless  puppies.  I  know  a  dog,  the  produce  of 
litter  brother  and  sister,  both  naturally  long-tailed,  who  is 
bobtailed  naturally,  and  never  got  a  full-tailed  pup,  although 
tried  with  mongrels  with  full  tails,  Black  and  Tan  Terriers, 
etc.  ..The  common  supposition  is  that  this  short  tail  is  a 
relic  of  the  days  when  dogs  with  shortened  tails  were 
exempt  from  taxation,  but  this  is  clearly  inadmissible. 

Cropping  the  ears  of  Terriers  and  Boarhounds,  docking 
the  tails  of  Spaniels,  Fox  Terriers,  etc. ,  and  shaving  the  coats 
of  Poodles  has  been  practiced  from  time  immemorial,  yet 
no  change  in  the  natural  conformation  of  either  breed  has 
been  the  result.  The  cats  of  the  Isle  of  Man  are  naturally 
tailless,  and  so  must  the  bobtailed  dog  have  originally  been. 

It  is  for  practical  work  that  the  bobtailed  dog  stands 
unequaled.  Apparently  his  uncompromisingly  ugly  looks 
have  saved  him  from  being  a  victim  to  the  pranks  of 
"  fancy,"  and  having  no  use  but  use,  he  has  naturally  been 
bred  for  use  alone.  It  would  be  but  natural  that  the  owner 
of  a  good  working  bitch  should  select  a  good  working  dog 
as  her  mate,  and  thus  the  instinct  of  work  has  been  kept 
alive  in  the  breed,  and  in  fact  stimulated  to  the  highest 
possible  degree.  Then  the  breed  has  been  more  used  around 
households  than  the  Collie.  In  Scotland,  sheep-farming 
has  been  carried  on  on  lands  remote  from  habitations,  and 
the  shepherd  and  his  dog  were  often  separated  from  human 
associations  for  a  considerable  time.  Thus  the  Collie  is  less 
a  household  dog,  hence  his  shy  and  suspicious  nature; 
while  the  Bobtail,  being  employed  to  herd,  drive,  and  watch 
stock,  to  guard  his  master's  premises,  drive  trespassing 
stock  away,  and  being  in  general  the  friend  and  associate 
of  his  master's  family,  has  developed  that  charming  dispo- 


THE   OLD   ENGLISH   SHEEP   DOG.  519 

sition  that  makes  him  by  far  the  best  companion  among 
dogs,  and  has  stimulated  his  wits  under  the  incentive  of 
constant  praise  and  affection. 

No  dog  can  have  a  stronger  instinctive  disposition  for 
work  than  the  Bobtail,  and  none  can  do  his  work  with  less 
training.  Queen  Vick  at  six  months  old  would  bring  up 
the  cows  to  be  milked  half  a  dozen  times  a  day,  being  too 
impatient  to  work  to  wait  for  the  proper  time.  When  the 
mare  is  plowing,  Vick  keeps  a  sharp  watch  on  the  colt,  and 
will  not  let  it  stray  a  dozen  yards  from  the  mare's  side. 
Dame  Bruin  at  nine  months  old,  never  having  been  worked 
on  sheep,  met  a  bunch  of  lambs  stuck  where  a  small  stream 
crossed  the  road;  without  an  order  from  her  master  (the 
lambs  did  not  belong  to  him),  she  tried  to  force  them  across, 
and  failing,  grabbed  one  and  tugged  it  over.  Dropping  it, 
she  served  another  the  same  way.  Agricola  had  not  seen 
stock  for  a  year  (other  than  horses  on  the  streets  of  Bos- 
ton), yet  the  second  day  he  was  on  a  farm  near  here,  he 
took  a  walk  with  his  master,  and  on  seeing  a  dozen  cows 
turned  out  of  a  field  half  a  mile  from  home,  took  charge  of 
them  without  a  word  of  instruction,  taking  them  straight 
home  without  any  assistance.  Bob  stopped  fights  between 
rams,  and  drove  the  hogs  away  from  the  corn  thrown  down 
to  the  chickens,  entirely  on  his  own  notion,  and  so  I  might 
go  on  ad  infinitum. 

No  dog  is  possessed  of  higher  courage  than  the  Bobtail, 
and  none  is  less  quarrelsome.  They  go  their  way,  molest- 
ing no  dog  and  tolerating  meddling  from  nothing  that 
wears  hair.  Agricola  bristled  up  as  quickly  at  my  Mastiff 
Baldur  as  he  would  at  the  merest  cur;  and  when  a  Bobtail 
fights,  it  is  not  for  fun;  it  is  serious  business,  and  the  busi- 
ness is  to  kill  the  other  dog  in  the  shortest  possible  time. 
With  their  powerful  jaws  and  strong  teeth,  they  must  be 
heavily  overmatched  if  they  do  not  come  off  victorious. 

The  picture  of  Gwen  shows  the  crack  specimen  of  the 
English  show  benches,  and  certainly  shows  a  capitally  strong, 
cobby,  well-made  animal,  while  the  one  copied  from  Stone- 
henge  is  the  best  illustration  of  a  Bobtail  in  action  that  can 


520  THE  AMERICAN   BOOK   OF   THE   DOG. 

be  imagined,  showing  the  immensely  powerful  hind  quarters, 
the  shaggy  coat,  and  the  peculiar  fashion  of  running  with  the 
fore  part  of  the  body  very  low  down,  or,  as  it  is  sometimes 
described,  "running  on  the  breast-bone."  This  picture 
looks  as  though  the  dog  were  an  inch  or  two  higher  behind 
than  at  the  shoulder,  yet,  if  carefully  scaled,  it  will  be 
found  that  the  dog  is  almost  exactly  level  on  the  back. 

Although  an  English  breed,  the  Bobtail  is  peculiarly 
fitted  for  the  needs  of  American  stockmen.  The  CoDie  is 
rather  more  of  a  herder  than  a  driver,  and  in  herding 
speed  is  a  matter  of  prime  necessity;  while  the  Bobtail  is 
rather  more  of  a  driver,  a  work  in  which  patience  and 
deliberation  is  a  main  point.  Thus,  although  as  fast  a  dog 
as  any,  barring  Hounds,  the  Bobtail  is  a  much  slower, 
quieter  driver,  much  less  apt  to  hurry  stock,  and  in  general 
more  deliberate  in  his  work. 

Any  stockman  will  recognize  the  value  of  this  trait 
when  the  dog  is  intrusted  with  driving  cattle  or  sheep  in 
our  intensely  hot  summers,  where  so  much  mischief  can  be 
done  by  overheating  the  stock.  One  thing  which  should 
always  be  borne  in  mind  is  constantly  overlooked  in  use  of 
Sheep  Dogs,  i.  e.,  that  a  dog  is  but  a  dog  after  all.  Great 
may  be  his  instinctive  knowledge,  and  wonderful  are  the 
many  manifestations  of  wisdom  in  dogs;  but,  after  all,  there 
is  a  point  they  can  not  pass.  Now  apply  to  Sheep  Dogs 
some  of  the  principles  of  ordinary  good  judgment.  Don't 
expect  that  a  dog  can  be  used  for  the  most  diverse  purposes 
and  yet  be  perfect  in  all.  You  could  not  expect  that  a  man 
just  through  with  a  fight  for  life  with  a  vicious  tramp  would 
be  in  a  proper  frame  of  mind  to  lead  a  prayer-meeting.  St. 
Vincent  de  Paul  himself  would  be  but  human  in  such  a 
case;  therefore,  do  not  expect  the  dog  you  use  to  chase 
swine  out  of  your  yard,  where  battles  royal  between  the 
dog  and  vicious  old  sows  are  a  matter  of  course,  to  be 
taken  at  once  and  set  to  drive  a  bunch  of  choice  sheep;  he 
can  not  dismiss  at  once  from  his  remembrance  the  effects  of 
his  battle  with  the  sow.  So  if  your  dog  is  used  to  chase 
and  kill  rabbits,  ground-hogs,  to  play  fetch  and  carry,  etc., 


THE   OLD   ENGLISH   SHEEP   DOG.  521 

he  will  not  be  fully  up  to  the  mark  for  handling  a  lot  of 
cows  heavy  with  calf.  The  same  dog  can  and  will  do  both 
classes  of  work  (or  play),  but  you  must  not  expect  him  to 
go  directly  from  one  to  the  other  and  to  be  perfect  at  both. 

I  would  not  be  understood  to  mean  depreciation  of  the 
Collie  as  compared  with  the  Bobtail;  each  has  his  own  char- 
acteristics and  each  his  peculiar  merits  and  demerits,  and 
the  lovely  and  useful  Collie  can  well  spare  his  unhandsome 
but  invaluable  compeer  his  due  meed  of  praise. 

The  rudiments  of  training  Sheep  Dogs  are  simple;  the 
fine  points  need  a  master's  hand,  and  no  instructions  can 
fully  supply  the  knack,  or  really  genius,  required.  First, 
you  should  breed  your  worker.  See  to  it  that  the  parents 
of  your  puppy  were  workers — that  is  half  the  battle;  then 
make  your  puppy  fond  of  you — secure  his  entire  confidence 
and  affection.  Never  speak  a  cross  word  to  him;  if  he 
needs  reproof,  administer  it  in  kind  and  warning  tones,  for 
such  are  far  more  effectual  than  the  blustering,  savage 
howls  some  "breakers"  think  indispensable.  Teach  the 
dog  to  lie  down  at  the  word,  the  initial  step  being  to  gently 
press  him  to  the  ground  with  the  hand,  with  the  word 
"down."  Now  move  away  from  the  dog,  and  if  he  rises, 
return  and  repeat  the  lesson.  After  he  will  keep  his  posi- 
tion when  you  have  gone  some  distance  from  him,  take  him 
out  with  sheep  and  make  him  lie  down;  then  go  around  the 
flock  with  a  pan  of  salt,  gathering  the  sheep  until  they  are 
between  you  and  the  dog;  then  call  the  latter.  If  he  is  the 
"right  kind,"  a  few  lessons  will  enable  him  to  comprehend 
what  you  desire  him  to  do,  and  by  waving  either  hand  he 
will  soon  understand  which  side  of  the  flock  you  wish  him 
to  pass  by. 

This  is  the  foundation  of  training,  and,  once  acquired, 
the  rest  of  the  dog's  education  is  a  comparatively  simple 
matter.  Remember  that  it  is  "education"  you  want  your 
dog  to  have,  not  the  ability  to  perform  certain  tricks  at  the 
command  of  his  master;  for  it  is  not  what  a  Sheep  Dog  does 
at  command  that  gives  him  great  value,  it  is  what  he  knows 
should  be  done  without  urging. 


522  THE  AMERICAN   BOOK  OF   THE   DOG. 

The  above  directions  on  training  are  simply  a  condensa- 
tion of  the  admirable  paper  prepared  by  Mr.  S.  M.  Cleaver, 
of  East  Bethlehem,  Penn.  They  are,  however,  sufficient  to 
qualify  any  good  dog-handler  with  the  faculty  of  teaching 
dogs  to  train  a  Sheep  Dog  to  any  work  that  can  be  required 
of  him;  and  without  "dog  knack"  nobody  should  attempt 
the  work. 

Remember  that  each  lesson  must  be  thoroughly  learned 
before  the  next  is  essayed,  and  always  praise  the  dog  when 
he  does  anything  well;  above  all  things,  never  punish  a  dog 
except  for  doing  what  he  knows  is  wrong. 

The  essentials  for  rearing  puppies,  whatever  be  the 
breed,  are  exceedingly  few  and  simple.  In  a  general  way, 
we  may  say  if  one  studies  nature,  profits  by  her  teachings, 
and  applies  her  principles,  he  will  meet  all  the  require- 
ments. But  this  is  scarcely  definite  enough,  and  we  will 
go  a  little  deeper  into  the  subject. 

When  a  bitch  is  about  to  whelp,  the  fact  is  very  evident 
in  her  manner.  She  busies  herself  with  her  bedding,  paw- 
ing over  her  straw,  placing  and  replacing  the  same.  When 
these  manifestations  appear,  it  may  be  assumed  that  whelp- 
ing is  likely  to  occur  within  twenty-four  hours.  It  is 
always  best  that  a  bitch  at  such  an  important  time  be  in 
quarters  to  which  she  has  been  accustomed;  she  is  always 
more  or  less  uneasy  for  a  time  if  a  comparative  stranger  to 
her  surroundings.  Yet  she  should  be  in  a  quiet  place,  safe 
from  intrusion  from  all  but  her  master  or  mistress.  This 
matter  of  seclusion  is  so  important  it  should  be  one  of  the 
first  considerations,  and  she  must  be  guarded  against  acci- 
dental blows  or  crushes. 

In  cold  weather,  the  room  in  which  a  bitch  is  whelping 
should  always  be  provided  with  plenty  of  soft,  dry  bedding, 
and  should  be  artificially  heated.  The  temperature  therein 
should  not  fall  below  60°  Fahrenheit  in  the  first  week, 
and  it  had  best  be  kept  up  to  70°  Fahrenheit  during  the 
first  twenty-four  hours  at  least.  The  reason  for  this  is 
obvious— the  puppies  are  drenched  with  the  amniotic  fluid 
when  they  come  into  the  world,  and  the  darn  keeps  them 


THE   OLD   ENGLISH   SHEEP   DOG.  523 

for  a  time  more  or  less  wet  by  frequent  licking  with  her 
tongue.  Hence  it  will  be  seen  that  for  them  to  become 
chilled  would  be  easy;  and  a  chill  to  a  young  puppy  means 
danger. 

Protection  against  cold  is,  then,  one  of  the  first  essen- 
ti^ls.  Another,  equally  important,  is  that  the  puppies 
should  nurse  soon  after  birth.  If  strong  and  hardy,  they 
will  seek  the  breast  of  their  own  accord,  but  if  weakly  they 
will  need  assistance.  Any  puppy  which  does  not  nurse 
voluntarily  must  be  held  to  the  breast  and  encouraged  to 
suck  within  two  or  three  hours  after  birth.  This  essential 
is  very  often  neglected,  and  the  fault  is  largely  accountable 
for  the  great  mortality  among  puppies.  Once  a  puppy 
nurses  well,  it  can  sal'ely  be  left  to  the  mother;  and  the 
' '  let  alone  treatment ' '  is  the  best,  coddling  being  most  mis- 
chievous. 

A  bitch  should  nurse  her  puppies  just  as  long  as  she  and 
they  do  well.  Probably  between  the  third  and  fourth  week 
their  gain  will  be  less  rapid,  and  the  circumstance  may  be 
held  as  evidence  that  the  dam  needs  assistance,  and  that 
feeding  the  puppies  artificially  should  be  commenced.'  The 
first  food  should  be  cow's  milk,  diluted  with  two  parts 
water,  and  slightly  sweetened  with  a  little  cane  sugar.  One 
such  feeding  a  day  is  enough  for  the  first  week;  during 
the  second,  two  feedings  at  least  will  be  needed,  and  the 
following  week  three.  After  weaning,  four  meals  a  day  up 
to  the  fifth  or  sixth  month  are  needed.  The  milk  at  first, 
as  already  stated,  should  be  diluted  with  two  parts  water. 
How  rapidly  to  lessen  the  dilution  is  a  matter  of  experi- 
ence— no  fixed  rule  can  be  established;  all  depends  upon 
how  the  food  acts.  Probably  in  the  early  part  of  the 
second  week  half  milk  and  half  water  will  be  suitable;  in 
the  latter  part,  very  likely,  the  milk  can  be  given  without 
dilution.  The  puppies'  discharges  should  be  watched,  for 
they  give  evidence  as  to  whether  or  not  the  food  is  too  rich. 

As  early  as  the  sixth  week,  puppies  should  begin  to  have 
meat  broths,  given  very  sparingly  at  first,  however.  Grad- 
ually a  more  generous  diet  should  be  allowed.  To  secure 


524  THE  AMERICAN   BOOK   OF   THE   DOG. 

growth  and  development,  the  first  essential  is  abundant 
food,  and  it  should  be  largely  of  meat.  Scarcely  less  im- 
portant are  decent  cleanliness  and  free  exercise.  After  a 
puppy  is  once  accustomed  to  solid  food,  the  matter  of  feed- 
ing becomes  simple.  All  the  provoking  minutiae  of  exact 
quantities,  particular  -qualities,  and  fixed  periods  in  the 
matter  of  food  and  feeding  are  of  little  moment.  If  a 
young  dog  has  sufficient  exercise,  there  is  no  danger  of  his 
being  overfed.  It  is  with  dogs  as  with  men,  give  them 
enough  muscular  work  to  do,  and  no  amount  of  food  which 
they  can  eat  will  be  likely  to  hurt  them. 

Dogs  should  have  bones  given  them  at  frequent  inter- 
vals, but  of  course  small  bones  should  be  kept  from  pup- 
pies, for  they  might  be  swallowed  whole  and  produce 
serious  trouble;  or,  if  broken,  the  sharp  points  would  be 
likely  to  play  the  mischief  with  the  internal  arrange- 
ments. 

Where  puppies  must  be  reared  in  crowded  kennels,  with 
the  scantiest  exercise,  I  can  not  suggest  any  course  of  pro- 
cedure; the  conditions  are  so  unnatural,  justice  can  scarcely 
be  done  them. 

Worms  are  the  principal  cause  of  puppy  mortality; 
"Ashmont,"  in  another  part  of  this  book,  gives  full  and  com- 
plete directions  for  treating  animals  afflicted  with  them; 
but  "a  pound  of  prevention,"  etc.  About  a  week  before 
a  bitch  is  due  to  whelp,  she  should  be  dosed  for  worms; 
should  then  be  shut  uj)inher  kennel,  on  abundant  bedding, 
until  she  has  thoroughly  evacuated.  The  bedding  should 
then  be  carefully  removed  and  burned,  and  the  kennel  well 
washed  and  cleansed  with  some  insecticide — boiling  hot 
water,  carbolic  acid  solution,  sulphate  of  soda  solution,  etc. 
Then  wash  the  bitch  carefully  all  over,  so  that  every  "nit" 
sticking  to  her  coat  may  be  removed  or  destroyed;  even 
taking  care  that  the  water  used  is  accounted  for.  Puppies 
nosing  and  rooting  around  in  search  of  the  teat  are  likely 
to  get  into  their  mouths  any  nits  that  may  be  attached  to 
the  dam' s  hair,  and  a  full  crop  of  worms  may  be  the  result. 
I  have  thought  that  the  eggs  of  worms  are  like  the  old  say- 


THE   OLD   ENGLISH    SHEEP  DOG.  525 

ing  as  to  certain  tough  cases  in  weeds,  uburn  them,  and  be 
careful  what  you  do  with  the  ashes." 

If  a  dog  is  fed  onions  and  turnips  pretty  regularly,  he  is 
not  likely  to  be  troubled  with  worms.  I  do  not  know 
whether  these  vegetables  are  vermifuges,  strictly  speaking, 
but  I  have  often  noted  worms  being  passed  by  dogs  after 
being  fed  these  articles  of  diet;  and  I  know  it  is  the  case 
with  mankind,  which  brings  me  to  the  point  that  a  dog  is 
so  much  like  a  man  in  disease,  that  it  is  a  pretty  safe  rule 
to  do  about  the  same  for  a  dog  as  would  be  the  right  thing 
for  a  man.  It  is  also  a  safe  rule  in  giving  medicine  to  a 
large  dog,  Mastiff,  St.  Bernard,  or  Newfoundland,  to  give 
the  same  amount  as  would  be  given  to  a  human  subject  of 
the  same  weight. 

Mr.  Gr.  W.  Moore  made  some  very  sensible  suggestions  in 
Forest  and  Stream  some  time  since  as  to  care  of  dogs  at  and 
after  dog  shows,  and  advises  thorough  washing  of  an  animal 
after  returning  from  a  show,  that  no  contagium  may  remain 
attached  to  its  coat  and  thus  infect  its  kennel  companions. 

You  should  be  exceedingly  careful  about  approaching  a 
bitch  just  after  whelping.  It  makes  no  difference  whether 
her  usual  disposition  is  amiable  or  the  reverse,  a  bitch 
peculiarly  gentle  at  other  times  may  be  extremely  savage 
when  she  has  young  puppies;  and  I  have  known  bad- 
tempered  bitches  who  were  very  indifferent  about  their 
puppies.  Therefore,  until  this  point  is  thoroughly  deter- 
mined by  experience,  use  particular  care  to  always  approach 
the  new  mother  with  circumspection.  Do  not  bolt  into 
where  she  is  suddenly,  but  go  quietly;  speak  to  her  kindly; 
prepare  her  for  your  coming  before  she  sees  you,  and  when 
you  come  to  her,  first  devote  your  attentions  to  her,  not 
appearing  to  notice  her  puppies,  and  after  she  allows  you 
to  fondle  her,  you  may  handle  her  puppies  with  care;  but 
in  all  cases  disturb  her  as  little  as  possible,  and  do  not  visit 
her  for  mere  curiosity.  See  that  she  is  comfortable,  and  let 
her  alone.  Take  particular  care  that  other  dogs  do  not 
approach  her;  she  has  objects  of  tender  care  under  her 
charge,  and  will  fight  for  them  to  the  death. 


526  THE  AMERICAN   BOOK   OF   THE   DOG. 

As  a  matter  of  prime  necessity,  every  dog-lover  should 
provide  himself  with  "Ashmont's"  book  on  dog  diseases. 
There  are  many  works  on  canine  disease  and  management, 
but  nothing  approaches  uAshmont."  It  is  so  peculiarly 
simple  and  plain  in  description  that  by  consulting  it  a 
layman  can  recognize  what  is  the  trouble  with  his  dog  in  a 
majority  of  cases,  and  its  directions  are  so  clear  that  the 
danger  of  making  a  mistake  is  reduced  to  a  minimum. 

But  as  the  layman  will  sometimes  be  at  a  loss  to  deter- 
mine from  the  symptoms  what  the  trouble  is,  he  should 
call  on  his  family  physician.  For  instance,  the  non-profes- 
sional will  not  be  able  to  determine  from  the  breathing  of 
the  animal  whether  it  has  catarrh,  pneumonia,  or  distemper. 
The  physician  can  determine  whether  it  be  either  of  the 
former,  thus  reducing  the  elements  in  doubt  to  narrow  lim- 
its. If  your  physician  is  a  snob,  he  may  be  affronted  by  being 
asked  to  examine  a  dumb  animal,  but  if  he  is  a  man  of 
standing,  he  will  do  it  for  you  with  pleasure. 

One  of  the  most-distinguished  surgeons  of  America  once 
operated  on  a  puppy  for  me,  opening  a  deep-seated  abscess 
with  as  much  care  and  skill  as  though  the  President  of 
the  United  States  were  his  patient.  The  late  Dr.  E.  Dyer, 
one  of  our  most-distinguished  oculists,  and  a  most  thorough 
surgeon  and  physician,  who  would  not  go  out  of  his 
specialty  for  a  man,  would  cut  his  office  hours  short  to 
attend  his  friend's  dog  in  an  urgent  case.  What  such 
men  are  willing  to  do  ought  not  to  be  objectionable  to  the 
man  of  lesser  fame.  As  a  rule,  the  veterinarian  knows 
little  of  canine  diseases;  and  as  the  symptoms  and  diseases 
of  dogs  approach  much  more  nearly  those  of  the  human 
subject  than  they  do  to  those  of  horses,  cattle,  etc.,  without 
special  training  in  canine  diseases  the  veterinarian  is  not 
as  well  prepared  to  treat  them  as  is  the  regular  physi- 
cian. 

It  must  be  remembered,  however,  that  when  you  avail 
yourself  of  the  kind  assistance  of  your  physician  you 
must  not  insist  on  paying  for  it.  That  terra  incognita  to 
the  layman,  "professional  etiquette,"  has  among  its  mani- 


THE   OLD   ENGLISH   SHEEP  DOG. 


527 


fold  unwritten  laws  one  against  receiving  pay  for  treatment 
of  dumb  animals. 

I  have  jotted  down  the  foregoing  as  that  which  experi- 
ence has  taught  a  layman  in  a  somewhat  lengthy  course  of 
"dog-raising;"  but,  distrusting  my  expert  knowledge,  and 
fearing  that  I  might  have  made  some  statement  that  might 
bring  down  on  me  the  wrath  of  the  faculty,  I  have  sub- 
mitted it  to  a  distinguished  physician,  who  pronounces  it 
"OK." 


THE  GREAT  DANE  (GERMAN  DOGGE). 


BY  PROFESSOR  J.  H.  H.  MAENNER. 


>HE  noblest  of  all  the  canine  race  is  undoubtedly  the 
German  Dogge,  generally  called  Great  Dane  in  this 
country  and  England.  He  possesses  all  the  good 
qualities  by  which  the  large  breeds  are  distinguished,  and 
surpasses  all  others  in  vivacity,  gracefulness  of  movement, 
elegance  of  form,  and  imposing  size.  The  symmetry  of  his 
limbs;  his  proud  carriage;  his  beautifully  shaped  head, 
supported  proudly  by  a  long,  finely  arched,  perfectly 
molded  neck;  his  bright  eye,  the  eloquent  index  of  intelli- 
gence, fidelity,  and  courage;  his  deep,  broad  chest  and 
long,  muscular  legs,  indicating  swiftness  and  fortitude;  the 
short,  glossy  coat,  displaying  his  magnificent,  muscular 
frame — all  parts  are  so  admirably  and  harmoniously  com- 
bined as  to  render  him  the  most  perfect  specimen  of  the 
canine  race.  Affectionate,  strongly  attached  to  his  owner, 
and  especially  fond  of  children,  he  is  a  brave,  faithful 
friend,  ever  ready,  if  necessary,  to  risk  even  his  life  in 
defense  of  his  master' s  person  or  property. 

This  breed  has  been  known  by  various  names  in  different 
countries  and  at  different  times,  viz. :  Ulmer  Dogge,  Great 
Dane,  Boarhound,  Fanghund,  Altdeutsche  Dogge,  etc. 
Such  a  variety  of  appellations  naturally  caused  much  con- 
fusion and  misunderstanding.  The  German  dog-fanciers, 
therefore,  met  during  the  bench  show  at  Berlin,  in  1880, 
adopted  a  standard  of  points,  and  agreed  to  drop  the  dif- 
ference between  the  heavy  and  light  strains  and  to  call  the 
breed  Deutsche  (German)  Dogge.  Previously  the  Germans 
had  usually  called  the  breed  Ulmer  Dogge,  after  the  City 
of  Ulm,  in  Wurtemberg,  Germany,  because  the  breeders  in 
Wurtemberg  had  been  most  successful  in  their  endeavors 

34  (529) 


530  THE  AMERICAN   BOOK   OF   THE   DOG. 

to  improve  the  Dogge  and  raise  him  to  such  perfection  that 
the  fanciers  in  other  parts  of  Germany  soon  vied  with 
them ;  and  now  the  Germans  call  the  German  Dogge,  with 
just  pride,  their  national  dog,  while  the  Great  Dane, 
according  to  the  Gartenlaube  of  April,  1885,  has  gone  to 
the  dogs  in  Denmark. 

On  the  title-page  of  the  book  "Die  Deutsche  Dogge," 
published  in  July,  1888,  we  read  as  follows: 

We  have  used  in  the  English  translation  the  term  the  ' '  German  Dogge  " 
in  preference  to  that  of  "Great  Dane,"  the  name  the  breed  has  in  England, 
because  we  consider  that  the  fatherland  of  the  Dogge,  the  country  in  which 
they  have  been  brought  to  their  present  state  of  perfection,  has  the  right  to 
choose  the  name  which  it  considers  correct.  The  ''Great  Danish  Dog" 
(Danske  Hunde)  is  an  entirely  different  breed,  which  is  found  in  Denmark, 
and  the  points  of  which  were  fixed  at  the  exhibition  in  Copenhagen,  1886. 

The  niustrirte  Zeitung  of  February  5,  1887,  contains  a 
picture,  "Three  Kindred  Races  of  Dogs,  the  English  Mas- 
tiff, the  Danish  Dog,  and  the  German  Dogge,"  and  the 
following  remarks: 

The  Danish  Dog,  little  known  in  Germany,  is  unquestionably  closely 
related  to  the  English  Mastiff,  but  has  better  legs  and  feet  than  the  thorough- 
bred Mastiff,  and  is  faster,  livelier,  and  not  so  clumsy.  The  best  specimens 
are  said  to  have  been  raised  thirty  or  forty  years  ago  on  an  estate  called 
Broholm,  and  are,  therefore,  also  called  Broholmer  Dogs.  The  Danish  or 
Broholm  Dog  does  not  at  all  resemble  our  German  Dogge,  as  may  be  readily 
seen  from  our  illustration,  and  it  is  proof  of  ignorance  if  many  a  fancier  still 
classifies  our  German  Dogge  as  Danish  or  Ulmer  Dogge.  The  distinction 
appears  to  have  been  invented  by  dealers,  for  now  we  find  the  light,  then  the 
heavy  strain  mentioned  as  Danish  or  Ulmer  Dogge. 

During  the  great  international  exhibition  of  dogs  of  all  races  at  Ham- 
burg, in  the  year  1876,  it  was  evident  that  none  of  the  breeders  and  connois- 
seurs present  were  able  to  classify  and  distinguish  the  numerous  entries  as 
Ulmer  or  Danish  Dogges.  During  the  following  shows  at  Hanover  (1879)  and 
Berlin,  it  was  resolved  to  abolish  this  unwarranted  distinction  entirely,  and  to 
designate  the  breed  as  German  Dogges,  which  they  have  been  in  reality  for  the 
last  three  centuries.  At  the  same  time,  a  standard  of  points  was  agreed  upon 
after  the  best  specimens.  According  to  them,  the  German  Dogge  must  neither 
be  too  heavy  nor  too  light,  but  must  keep  exactly  the  medium  between  the 
Greyhound  and  Molossus  Dog.  Later  attempts  to  have  a  heavier  kind 
acknowledged,  besides  the  one  recognized  by  the  standard,  have  always  been 
rejected  with  overwhelming  majority  by  the  friends  and  breeders  of  this  finest 
and  largest  of  all  canine  races. 


THE   GEEAT  DANE. 


531 


The  origin  and  descent  of  the  German  Dogge  are  not 
definitely  known,  but  we  do  know  that  the  breed  is  of  great 
antiquity.  In  the  agricultural,  forest,  and  hunting  laws 
of  the  old  Gferman  tribes,  which  were  not  collected  until 
the  middle  of  the  tenth  century,  under  the  title  4  4  Geopo- 
nica,"  seven  kinds  of  dogs  are  enumerated  in  the  "  Lex  Ale- 
manorum."  Of  these,  the  Canis  porcaritius  (Boarhound), 


MINCA    MIA. 
Owned  by  Prof.  J.   H.  H.  Maenner,  Baltimore,   Md. 

"that  catches  the  swine,"  or  the  Canis  ursaritius  (bear- 
catcher),  "that  catches  the  bear,  the  cow,  or  the  bull,"  and 
the  Veltris  leporalis  (the  Greyhound  or  Harehound),  are 
thought  to  be  the  progenitors  of  the  German  Dogge,  that 
probably  owes  his  origin  to  the  efforts  made  to  raise  a  breed 
in  which  the  principal  qualities  of  the  above-mentioned 
varieties,  i.  e.,  strength  and  fleetness,  are  combined. 

A  savage,  strong,  and  courageous  dog,  whose  origin  is  a 


532  THE   AMERICAN   BOOK    OF   THE   DOG. 

mystery,  existed  in  ancient  times.  In  the  book,  "The 
Varieties  of  Dogs,  as  They  Are  Found  in  Old  Sculptures, 
Pictures,  Engravings,  and  Books,"  by  Th.  Charles  Berjeau, 
we  find  pictures,  copied  from  the  British  Museum,  of  this 
dog — the  Canis  molossus,  now  extinct — bearing  a  striking 
resemblance  to  the  German  Dogge.  Aristotle  mentions  the 
Canis  moloticus — after  Molossis  or  Molossia,  the  central 
part  of  Epirus,  in  ancient  Greece — 350  years  B.  C.,  in  his 
"Historia  Animalium."  The  Canis  venations  (hunting 
dog)  mentioned  in  Marcus  Terentius  Varro'  s  work,  l '  De  re 
Rustica,1'  in  the  last  century  B.  C.,  is  probably  the  same 
dog  as  the  Canis  moloticus,  or  molossus,  as  well  as  the 
Canis  venaticus  that  Junius  Moderatus  Calnmella  writes 
of  in  the  first  century  of  the  Christian  era.  Shortly  before 
that  time,  Gratlus  Faliscus,  in  his  "Cynegeticon,"  treats  of 
the  manner  of  using  the  dogs  for  hunting,  of  raising  and 
training  them,  of  their  qualities,  diseases,  etc. ;  also  Oppi- 
anus  of  Anazarbos,  in  the  second  century,  in  his  didactic 
poem,  "De  Venatione,"  Marc.  Aurelius  Olympius  Neme- 
sianus  of  Carthage,  in  his  "  Cynegeticon,"  and  Titus  Julius 
Calpurnius  of  Sicily,  in  his  "Cynegeticon  sen  de  re  Vene- 
tica  Eclogse,"  describe  explicitly  the  qualities  of  the  dogs, 
and  their  being  employed  for  hunting.  Many  other  histo- 
rians and  poets,  among  whom  Virgil,  Horace,  Caius  Plinius 
Secundus,  living  shortly  before  or  in  the  beginning  of  the 
Christian  era,  describe  and  extol  the  Canis  molossus  and 
his  valorous  deeds. 

The  Romans  are  said  to  have  become  acquainted  with 
these  dogs  in  England,  and  to  have  exported  many  of  them 
for  the  purpose  of  using  them  in  the  circus  to  light  with 
wild  beasts.  Tlnve  of  them  could  overpower  a  bear,  and 
four  even  a  lion.  The  Romans,  finding  extreme  delight  in 
these  contests,  valued  the  pugnacious  Molossus  Dogs,  whose 
daring  exploits  historians  and  poets  extolled  so  highly  that 
they  appointed  officers  in  their  British  provinces  whose 
business  was  the  selection  and  training  of  the  dogs  to  be 
sent  to  Rome.  Long  after  the  decline  of  the  Roman  Em- 
pire these  dogs  were  employed  for  such  bloody  contests, 


THE  GREAT  DANE  (  GERMAN  DOGGE  ).         533 

and  when  bears  and  lions  became  scarce,  the  bull  was  sub- 
stituted for  them. 

John  Stow  describes  a  contest  between  three  of  these 
dogs  and  a  lion,  in  the  presence  of  James  I.  One  of  the 
dogs  being  put  into  the  den,  was  soon  disabled  by  the  lion; 
the  second  met  with  a  similar  fate,  but  the  third  immedi- 
ately seized  the  lion  by  the  lip  and  held  him  for  a  long 
time,  till,  being  considerably  torn  by  the  lion's  claws,  he 
was  obliged  to  quit  his  hold.  The  lion,  greatly  exhausted 
by  the  conflict,  refused  to  renew  the  engagement,  but, 
taking  a  sudden  leap  over  the  dogs,  fled  into  the  interior 
part  of  his  den.  Two  of  the  dogs  soon  died  of  their 
wounds;  the  last  survived,  and  was  taken  care  of  by  the 
king's  son,  who  said:  "  He  that  has  fought  with  the  king 
of  beasts  shall  never  fight  with  an  inferior  creature." 

The  dogs,  however,  were  not  the  antagonists  of  wild 
beasts  only;  they  or  their  descendants  were  also  trained  to 
attack  persons.  During  the  conquest  of  Cuba  and  San 
Domingo,  in  1511,  the  Spaniards  under  Diego  Velasquez 
employed  the  dogs  in  subduing  the  natives  and  pursuing 
them  into  the  forests,  where  they  had  sought  refuge.  Hor- 
rible deeds  are  recorded  of  the  famous  dog,  Berezillo,  that 
was  killed  by  an  Indian  with  a  poisoned  arrow  during  the 
conquest  of  Porto  Rico,  in  1514.  A  descendant  of  Bere- 
zillo, Yasco  Nunez  de  Balboa's  dog,  Leoncico,  was  also 
famous  for  killing  and  tearing  to  pieces  numbers  of  Indi- 
ans. In  1519,  the  Spaniards  Junder  Hernando  Cortes  em- 
ployed these  dogs  in  the  same  cruel  manner  to  hunt  down 
and  kill  the  natives  in  Mexico. 

During  the  reign  of  Charles  the  Great,  in  the  eighth 
century,  the  Canis  molossus  is  mentioned,  and  in  the  for- 
est laws  of  King  Henry  II.  of  England,  of  the  twelfth 
century,  we  read  of  the  Canis  mastivus. 

Many  varieties  are  the  descendants  of  the  Canis  mo- 
lossus, the  most  popular  of  which  are  the  Bulldog,  his 
diminutive  relative  the  Pug,  the  English  Mastiff,  and  the 
German  Dogge. 

In  pictures  painted  by  celebrated  artists  in  the  begin- 


534  THE   AMERICAN   BOOK   OF   THE   DOG. 

ning  of  the  sixteenth  century,  notable  among  which  are 
the  uWild  Boar  Hunt,"  by  Jurgen  Jacobsz;  the  "Bear 
Hunt,"  by  Francis  Snyders;  the  "Wild  Boar  Hunt,"  by 
Peter  Paul  Rubens,  we  find  a  species  of  dogs  of  the  same 
size  and  shape  as  the  present  German  Dogge.  These  dogs 
also  enjoyed  high  favor  with  the  German  nobility,  and  were 
the  constant  companions  of  their  noble  masters.  Famous 
dogs  of  this  kind  were  owned  by  the  Emperor  Wenzel, 
Charles  V.,  and  the  Duke  Ulrich  of  Wurtemberg.  The 
latter,  when  dispossessed  of  his  throne  by  his  enemies, 
in  the  beginning  of  the  sixteenth  century,  had  to  seek 
refuge  in  the  caves,  near  the  Castle  of  Lichtenstein,  for  some 
months,  where,  principally  through  the  sagacity,  vigilance, 
and  courage  of  his  dog,  he  escaped  several  murderous 
assaults  made  against  his  life. 

There  are  at  present  three  varieties  of  the  German  Dogge, 
viz.,  the  brindled  or  tiger-striped,  the  spotted  or  Harlequin, 
commonly  called  Tiger-doggen  in  Germany,  and  those  of 
one  color.  While  a  distinction  should  be  strictly  main- 
tained with  regard  to  color,  no  difference  is  to  be  made  in 
size,  coat,  or  form.  It  must  be  admitted,  however,  that 
those  of  one  color  sometimes  have  finer  hair,  lighter  forms, 
and  a  more  pointed  head,  whereby  some  are  induced  to 
believe  that  there  is  more  Greyhound  blood  in  them. 
Others  are  of  the  opinion  that  the  fawn,  or  the  red  variety, 
descended  from  the  brindled  Dogge  by  a  disappearance  of 
the  dark  streaks,  and  also  the'black  one  by  an  increase  of  the 
dark  stripes,  and  that  the  gray,  or  blue  one,  was  produced 
by  crossing  the  fawn,  or  the  sandy-red,  and  the  black 
Dogge. 

The  origin  of  neither  the  spotted  nor  the  brindles  being 
known,  their  color  is  to  be  considered  original.  It  is 
supposed  that  the  spotted  variety  received  his  wall-eye 
and  spotted  or  flesh-colored  nose  by  a  crossing  of  Albinos 
with  black  Dogges,  which  theory  is  plausible,  since  a  simi- 
lar coloring  of  the  eyes  and  noses  of  the  progeny  from 
spotted  and  white  horses  is  observed. 

The  spotted  specimens  have  white,  silver-gray,  or  bluish 


THE   GREAT   DANE. 


535 


ground-color,  with  irregular  black,  gray,  or  blue  spots  or 
patches.  Those  with  white  ground-color  and  black  spots 
are  the  most  beautiful;  the  lighter  the  ground-color  and 


the  darker  the  spots,  the  better.  Some  persons  entertain 
the  mistaken  idea  that  these  dogs  were  used  for  hunting 
or  attacking  tigers,  because  they  are  generally  called 
Tiger-doggen  in  Germany. 


536  THE   AMEEICAN   BOOK   OF  THE   DOG. 

In  France,  the  whole-colored  variety,  especially  the 
blue  or  black,  is  preferred,  although  of  late  the  Tiger  as 
well  as  the  brindled  Dogge  finds  admirers  there.  At  the 
exhibition  at  Paris,  in  1889,  Charles  Goute's  Tiger  bitch 
Calypso,  his  Tiger  dog  Roland  II.,  and  his  brindled  dog 
Fidelio  won  lirst  prizes.  These  dogs  are  very  large;  and  their 
receiving  the  highest  honors  at  an  exhibition  in  France, 
where  the  smaller,  elegantly  shaped  dog  has  always  been 
valued  highest,  indicates  a  modification  of  taste  in  that 
country,  where  specimens  over  thirty  inches  high  were  not 
much  thought  of.  Fidelio,  one  of  the  finest  specimens 
known,  is  a  powerful  dog,  of  strong  bone,  about  thirty- 
four  inches  high,  weighing  183  pounds.  He  is  much 
admired  in  France  now,  though  the  brindled  Dogge  is  called 
there,  by  many,  a  butcher-dog. 

In  England  it  is  entirely  different.  There  the  Tiger 
and  the  brindled  varieties  rank  highest;  great  size  is 
highly  appreciated  there,  and  Mr.  Riego's  Cid  Campea- 
dor,  a  dog  of  about  the  same  height  as  Fidelio,  is  much 
admired.  The  admirers  of  the  large  specimens  will  even 
overlook  a  little  dewlap,  which  is  more  frequently  found 
on  those  over  thirty-one  inches  high  than  on  smaller  ones. 
Besides,  we  find  many  very  large  Dogges  with  coarse  hair 
and  a  faulty  frame.  The  yellow-dun  Dogge,  with  black 
mask,  is  generally  considered  the  result  of  a  cross  with 
the  Mastiff,  in  England,  while  in  Germany  the  black  mask 
is  a  desirable  feature,  preventing  the  appearance  of  red 
or  flesh-colored  noses  in  puppies.  .Brindles  will  often 
whelp  yellow  or  dun  puppies  with  black  masks,  which 
fact  proves  the  erroneousness  of  the  above-mentioned 
supposition. 

Another  erroneous  opinion,  prevailing  in  England,  is 
that  dew-claws  indicate  a  cross  with  the  smooth- coated 
St.  Bernard.  They  are  not  an  ornament  or  a  desirable 
appendage,  but  are  found  on  specimens  of  the  purest 
strains.  Sometimes  they  are  cumbersome  and  hurtful; 
they  may  grow  into  the  flesh,  or  the  dog  may  be  wounded 
by  them  in  another  manner.  Therefore  it  is  advisable 


THE   GREAT   DANE.  587 

% 

to  relieve  the  puppies  of  them,  with  a  pair  of  sharp 
scissors,  when  about  two  weeks  old,  or  even  sooner.  The 
operation  will  cause  little  pain,  and  the  loss  of  blood  will 
be  slight  at  so  early  an  age. 

In  Germany,  all  varieties  have  their  admirers,  but  the 
preference  is  generally  given  to  the  brindles.  First-class 
specimens  of  that  variety  were  scarce  at  the  exhibition  at 
Oannstadt,  in  1889,  because  they  are  in  such  demand  that 
few  of  them  remain  in  Wurtemberg  for  a  long  time. 
The  German  breeders  endeavor  to  raise  large  specimens; 
but  those  not  possessing  a  correct  frame,  or  being  deficient 
in  bone,  muscle,  or  otherwise,  are  but  slightly  valued. 

With  reference  to  the  size  of  Dogges,  we  often  find 
exaggerated  statements;  but  it  may  be  safely  asserted  that 
the  German  Dogge  is  superior  to  all  other  breeds  in  height. 
Mr.  Riego  declares  his  Champion  Cid  Campeador,  bred  in 
Germany,  to  be  the  largest  dog  ever  raised  in  Europe— his 
height  being  thirty-four  inches  at  shoulder — and  that  the 
largest  St.  Bernard  measures  about  thirty-three  and  one-half 
inches,  but  that  his  owner  makes  him  thirty-six  inches. 
According  to  the  Jagd-und  ScJiutzen-Zeitung  of  April 
15,  1889,  the  height  of  the  German  Dogge  Victor,  then 
exhibited  at  Chicago,  is  thirty -eight  inches.  The  Witten- 
berger  Kreisblatt  stated,  some  years  ago,  that  Friedrich's 
Csesar  was  1.02  meters,  or  about  forty  and  one-sixth  inches, 
high.  The  latter  assertions  have  to  be  taken  cum  grano 
sails.  'Not  many  dogs  will  attain  a  height  of  thirty-four 
inches,  and  few  of  those  exceeding  it  will  have  a  correct 
frame. 

Actual  measurements  of  Boppel's  Sandor,  one  of  the 
largest  and  finest  Dogges,  taken  not  long  ago,  may  be  of 
interest: 

Length  of  head,  12-J  inches;  length  of  neck,  llf  inches; 
length  from  neck  to  set-on  of  tail,  32  inches;  length  of  tail, 
25J  inches;  girth  of  skull,  23  inches;  girth  of  chest,  38f 
inches;  girth  of  loin,  28-J  inches;  girth  of  thigh,  10J  inches; 
height,  34-J  inches 

The  above  measurements  were    taken  and  guaranteed 


538  THE   AMERICAN   BOOK  OF   THE   DOG. 

correct  by  Mr.  Ziebert.  Sandor  is  young  and  not  fully 
developed  yet. 

The  ears  of  the  German  Dogge  are  generally  cropped, 
because  it  gives  the  head  a  bolder  and  livelier  expression 
and  appearance.  In  England,  however,  a  strong  opposition 
prevails  against  the  cropping  of  the  ears  of  any  breed,  and 
the  wish  of  the  Queen  of  England,  as  well  as  the  exertions 
made  by  the  Society  for  the  Prevention  of  Cruelty  to  Ani- 
mals to  put  a  stop  to  this  so-called  cruelty,  may  be  of  no 
little  consequence. 

The  Queen  of  Wurtemberg,  who  visited  the  exhibition 
at  Cannstadt,  in  1889,  expressed  also  a  wish,  when  admiring 
the  class  of  beautiful  German  Dogges,  that  the  ears  might 
be  left  to  them  just  as  God  created  them.  The  French, 
on  the  contrary,  do  not  want  a  Dogge  with  uncropped  ears; 
and  a  German  sporting  paper,  the  Hunde-  Sport,  remarked 
not  long  ago: 

There  is  danger  that  America  will  follow  the  example  of  England.  We 
in  Germany  do  not  crop  the  ears  of  our  Hatzriide  since  the  day  before  yester- 
day; our  ancestors  did  so  centuries  ago,  and  if  it  will  be  admissible  to  draw  a 
general  conclusion  from  a  Greek  coin,  the  cropping  of  ears  was  customary  two 
thousand  years  ago,  and  neither  England  nor  America  will  alter  it. 

The  same  paper  had  in  its  issue  of  January  22,  1890, 
the  following: 

We  have  been  informed  that  in  two  cases  owners  of  young  Dogges  were 
indicted  by  societies  and  fined  for  cropping  the  ears  of  dogs.  Should  any  one 
of  our  readers  be  fined  on  that  account,  he  is  requested  to  enter  protest  against 
ft,  and  to  ask  us  to  name  him  two  experts  who  are  ready  to  declare  under  oath 
that  the  non-cropping  of  ea's  was  the  cause  of  continual  suffering  in  the  ears, 
so  that  the  cropping  had  to  be  performed  in  advanced  age.  Not  the  cropping 
of  the  ears  is  tormenting,  but  their  remaining  uncropped.  We  are  convinced 
that  on  such  evidence  the  parties  indicted  will  be  acquitted. 

On  the  other  hand,  experts  spoke  and  wrote  against  the 
fashion  of  cropping  ears.  Professor  Weiss,  of  the  Veter- 
inary College  at  Stuttgart,  says  in  his  book,  "  The  Dog, 
His  Qualities,  Breeding,  and  Treatment  in  Healthy  and 
Sick  Condition:" 

The  operation  of  cropping  ears  consists  in  a  tormenting  for  the  sake  of 
satisfying  a  nonsensical  taste;  besides,  according  to  the  opinion  of  the  greatest 
dog-fanciers,  the  dog  looks,  in  his  natural  condition,  much  better  than  after 


THE   GREAT   DANE.  539 

squandering  any  cruel  art  on  him;  moreover,  the  consequences  of  this  useless 
mutilation  do  not  cease  when  the  ear  is  healed.  The  irritation  caused  by  it 
often  has  an  injurious  effect  on  the  internal  ear,  and  frequently  deafness  is  the 
result. 

Not  a  few  dog-fanciers  affirm  that  the  exterior  ear  of  the 
dog,  being  movable,  prevents  the  free  entrance  of  insects, 
dust,  rain,  snow,  hail,  etc.,  protects  against  the  changes  of 
temperature,  assists  the  animal  in  catching  the  sound- 
waves, and  thereby  renders  the  sense,  of  hearing  more 
acute. 

Thus  we  see  that  the  opinions  of  experts,  as  well  as  of 
fanciers,  differ,  and  are  even  diametrically  opposite,  with 
reference  to  the  cropping  of  ears.  The  taste  for  cropping, 
however,  is  predominant,  and  we  may  predict  a  continuance 
of  the  fashion,  in  spite  of  arguments  and  protests.* 

STANDARD   OF   POINTS. 

The  Great  Dane  Club  of  England,  whose  object  is  the 
breeding  and  improvement  of  the  German  Dogge,  has 
adopted  the  following  standard  of  points,  which  is,  a  few 
unessential  differences  excepted,  the  same  as  the  one  laid 
down  by  the  breeders  in  Germany: 

General  appearance. — The  Great  Dane  is  not  so  heavy 
and  massive  as  the  Mastiff,  nor  should  he  too  nearly 
approach  the  Greyhound  type.  Remarkable  in  size  and 
very  muscular,  strongly  though  elegantly  built,  move- 
ments easy  and  graceful;  head  and  neck  carried  high;  the 
tail  carried  horizontally  with  the  back,  or  slightly  upward, 
with  a  slight  curl  at  the  extremity.  The  minimum  height 
and  weight  of  dogs  should  be  thirty  inches  and  one  hun- 
dred and  twenty  pounds;  of  bitches,  twenty-eight  inches 
and  one  hundred  pounds.  Anything  below  this  shall  be 
debarred  from  competition.  Points:  General  appearance, 
3;  condition,  3;  activity,  5;  height,  13. 

Head. — Long,  the  frontal-bone  of  the  forehead  slightly 

*  I  wish  to  record  here  a  most  earnest  and  emphatic  protest  against  crop- 
ping, docking,  or  otherwise  mutilating  dogs  of  any  breed.  In  my  judgment, 
these  practices  are  cruel  and  useless,  and  the  taste  or  notion  that  fosters  them 
is  erroneous. — EDITOR. 


540 


THE  AMERICAN   BOOK   OF   THE  DOG. 


raised,  and  very  little  indentation  between  the  eyes.  Skull 
not  too  broad.  Muzzle  broad  and  strong,  and  blunt  at  the 
point.  Cheek  muscles  well  developed.  Nose  large,  bridge 
well  arched.  Lips  in  front  perpendicularly  blunted,  not 
hanging  too  much  over  the  sides,  though  with  well-defined 


MAJOR. 
Owned   by   Mr.  Paul   Merker,    78   State   street,    Chicago. 

folds  at  the  angle  of  the  mouth.  The  lower  jaw  slightly 
projecting— about  a  sixteenth  of  an  inch.  According  to 
German  standard,  the  lower  jaw  must  be  neither  projecting 
nor  receding,  so  as  to  make  the  teeth  meet  evenly.  Eyes 
small,  round,  with  sharp  expression  and  deeply  set.  Ears 
very  small,  and  Greyhound-like  in  carriage  when  un- 
cropped;  they  are,  however,  usually  cropped.  Points,  15. 
Neck.—  Rather  long,  very  strong  and  muscular,  well 


THE   GREAT   DANE.  541 

arched,  without  dewlap  or  loose  skin  about  the  throat. 
The  junction  of  head  and  neck  strongly  pronounced. 
Points,  5. 

Chest. — Not  too  broad,  and  very  deep  in  the  brisket. 
Points,  8. 

Back. — Not  too  long  or  short,  loins  arched  and  falling 
in  a  beautiful  line  to  the  insertion  of  th*  tail.  Points,  8. 

Tail. — Reaching  to  the  hock,  strong  at  the  root,  and 
ending  fine  with  a  slight  curve.  When  excited,  it  becomes 
more  curved,  but  in  no  case  should  curve  over  the  back. 
Points,  4. 

Belly. — Well  drawn  up.     Points,  4. 

Fore  quarters. — Shoulders  set  sloping;  elbows  well 
under,  neither  turned  inward  nor  outward.  Leg — fore-arm 
muscular  and  with  great  development  of  bone,  the  whole 
leg  strong  and  quite  straight  Points,  10. 

Hind  quarters. — Muscular  thighs,  and  second  thigh 
long  and  strong,  as  in  the  Greyhound,  and  hocks  well  let 
down,  and  turning  neither  in  nor  out.  Points,  10. 

Feet. — Large  and  round,  neither  turned  inward  nor  out- 
ward. ,  Toes  well  arched  and  closed.  Nails  very  strong 
and  curved.  Points,  8. 

Hair. — Very  short,  hard,  and  dense,  and  not  much 
longer  on  the  under  part  of  the  tail.  Points,  4. 

Color  and  markings. — The  recognized  colors  are  the 
various  shades  of  gray  (commonly  termed  "blue"),  red, 
black,  or  pure  white,  or  white  with  patches  of  the  before- 
mentioned  colors.  The  colors  are  sometimes  accompanied 
with  markings  of  a  darker  tint  about  the  eyes  and  muzzle, 
and  with  a  line  of  the  same  tint  (called  a  "trace")  along 
the  course  of  the  spine.  The  above  ground- colors  also 
appear  in  the  brindles,  and  also  the  ground-colors  of  the 
mottled  specimens.  In  the  whole-colored  specimens,  the 
china  or  wall-eye  but  rarely  appears,  and  the  nose  more  or 
less  approaches  black,  according  to  the  prevailing  tint  of 
the  dog,  and  the  eyes  vary  in  color  also.  The  mottled 
specimens  have  irregular  patches  or  "clouds"  upon  the 
above-named  ground-colors;  in  some  instances,  the  clouds 


542  THE   AMERICAN   BOOK    OF   THE   DOG. 

or  markings  being  of  two  or  more  tints.  With  the  mot- 
tled specimens,  the  wall  or  china  eye  is  not  uncommon,  and 
the  nose  is  often  parti-colored  or  wholly  flesh-colored. 

Faults.—  Too  heavy  a  head,  too  highly  arched  frontal- 
bone,  and  deep  "stop"  or  indentation  between  the  eyes; 
large  ears  and  hanging  flat  to  the  face;  short  neck;  full 
dewlap;  too  narrow  or  too  broad  a  chest;  sunken  or  hollow 
or  quite  straight  back;  bent  fore  legs;  overbent  fetlocks; 
twisted  feet;  spreading  toes;  too  heavy  or  too  much  bent, 
or  too  highly  carried  tail,  or  with  a  brush  underneath;  weak 
hind  quarters,  and  a  general  want  of  muscle.  .j 

The  diseases  peculiar  to  this  race  are  the  same  as  those 
of  other  large  smooth -coated  dogs,  and  are  generally  the 
consequence  of  overfeeding  and  want  of  exercise,  or  of  not 
being  properly  protected  against  dampness  or  the  inclem- 
encies of  the  weather.  The  Dogges  are  very  hardy  and 
easily  acclimated;  they  can  live  in  a  cold  climate,  and  bet- 
ter than  rough-coated  breeds  in  warm  countries.  If  prop- 
erly fed  and  cared  for,  they  will  rarely  be  sick.  The  best 
food  for  them  is  broth,  milk,  vegetables,  corn-meal,  boiled 
or  baked,  meat,  cooked  or  raw,  and  bones. 

THE   FUTUKE   OF     THE   GERMAN   DOGGE   IN   THE   UNITED 

STATES. 

An  enthusiastic  admirer  wrote  not  long  since,  "Make 
room  for  the  Great  Dane,  for  lie  is  coming."  And  it  is  no 
wonder  that  he  is  coming;  the  more  generally  his  noble 
qualities,  his  superiority  to  other  breeds,  are  known,  the 
more  rapidly  will  the  number  of  his  friends  and  admirers 
increase.*  It  is  strange  that  this  variety  is  comparatively 

*  Among  the  many  American  breeders  and  owners  of  Great  Danes  may  by 
mentioned  the  following:  R.  P.  Alden,  3  East  Thirty-eighth  street,  New  York 
City;  Miss  M.  E.  Simonson,  East  Orange,  N.  J.;  Paul  Merker,  78  State  street, 
Chicago,  111.;  Edward  Kelly,  55  West  Twenty-sixth  street,  New  York  City; 
Carl  Heimerle,  Bay  Ridge,  Long  Island,  N.  Y.;XJohn  Getz,  220  Fifth  avenue, 
New  York  City;  W.  A.  Armstrong,  New  Brighton,  Staten  Island,  N.  Y.;  T. 
Roedler,  Milton,  Ontario,  Canada;  Welz  &  Zerweck,  Myrtle  and  Wyckoif  ave- 
nues, Brooklyn,  N.  Y. ;  Theo.  Honegger,  33  Broad  street,  New  York  City;  H.  A. 
Lawson,  107  Cherry  street,  New  York  City;  Osceola  Kennels,  Osceola  Mills, 


THE   GREAT   DANE.  543 

little  known  here  yet,  and  that  not  many  years  ago  there 
were  not  enough  in  this  country  to  have  a  class  for  them  in 
the  shows.  In  New  York,  they  were  iirst  exhibited  in  1886, 
when  there  were  eleven  of  them;  in  1887,  only  six  were 
exhibited;  in  1888,  seven;  in  1889,  seventeen,  and  this  year 
(1890),  twenty-five.  In  Chicago,  there  were  fifty- three 
exhibited  at  the  Mascoutah  Kennel  Club  Show  this  year. 
The  Great  Dane  or  German  Mastiff  Club  of  that  city,  organ- 
ized last  year  for  the  purpose  of  popularizing  this  breed, 
has  now  a  large  membership,  and  has  already  done  and 
will  doubtless  do  a  great  deal  to  call  the  attention  of  dog- 
fanciers  to  the  German  Dogge.  The  efforts  of  the  members 
of  that  club  will  certainly  be  appreciated  by  those  who 
may  acquire  a  specimen  of  this  breed,  and  thus  become 
acquainted  with  the  beauty  and  admirable  disposition  of 
the  Dogge. 

It  is,  however,  difficult  to  get  the  best  specimens,  and 
they  command  high  prices.  For  importations  we  must 
rely  principally  on  Germany,  the  home  of  the  breed.  In  a 
review  of  the  remarkable  events  in  the  dogdom  of  Germany 
during  the  year  1889,  a  German  sporting  paper  prints  the 
following: 

Foreign  countries  carried  off  several  Dogges.  Two  went  to  Mr.  Riego,  in 
England,  Mr.  Onderwater,  in  Holland,  got  Diana-Essig,  and  Professor  Maen- 
ner,  in  Baltimore,  bought  Bravo  Pluto  and  Minca  Mia.  To  the  kennel  of  Mr. 
Goute,  in  France,  went  Fidelio,  Libussa,  Roland,  and  Rheinperle. 

Thus  we  see  that  few  specimens  worthy  of  being  men- 
tioned left  Germany  last  year,  but  a  greater  number  will 
surely  leave  during  this  year  and  thereafter. 

As  illustrating  the  noble  disposition  of    the  German 

Wis. ;  Prof.  J.  H.  H.  Maenner,  404  South  Paca  street,  Baltimore,  Md. ;  G. 
Leihbacher,  Myrtle  avenue  and  Grove  street,  Brooklyn,  N.  Y. ;  M.  Martin, 
601  East  Fourteenth  street,  New  York  City;  F.  M.  Wilder,  2515  Wabash 
avenue,  Chicago,  111.;  Andrew  Schultz,  697  Noble  street,  Chicago,  111.;  F.  C. 
Smith,  Bloomington,  111. ;  H.  A.  Williams,  1101  Washington  boulevard,  Chi- 
cago, 111.;  E.  R.  Bacon,  73  Board  of  Trade,  Chicago,  111.;  Hawthorn  Kennels, 
Elmhurst,  111.;  William  Pfeifer,  2  Elston  avenue,  Chicago,  111.;  August  Trin- 
kle,  Cincinnati,  Ohio;  Joseph  Zilligen,  Jr.,  552  Thirty-first  street,  Chicago, 
111. ;  J.  W.  Eliel,  3440  Indiana  avenue,  Chicago,  111.— ED. 


514 


THE   AMERICAN   BOOK    OF   THE  DOG. 


Dogge,  I  quote  some  extracts  from  a  communication  to  the 
American  Field.  One  in  the  issue  of  September  14,  1889, 
from  Baltimore,  signed  "Wisp,"  reads  as  follows: 

The  recent  importation  of  several  fine  specimens  of  the  Great  Dane,  by  a 
gentleman  of  this  city,  has  created  more  than  a  passing  interest  in  this  noble 
breed  of  dogs.  I  was  attracted  to  this  breed,  a  few  years  ago  by  witnessing  a 
most  remarkable  case  of  transition  of  temperament,  i.  e.,  from  a  playful  mood 


Owned  by  Mr    Pai 


JUNO. 
Meiker,   78  State  street,   Chicago. 


to  one  of  intense  earnestness  and  courage  I  was  walking  along  a  suburban 
road,  and  saw  ahead  of  me  two  little  children  crawling  and  climbing  all  over  a 
large,  fallow-colored,  supple-looking  dog,  that  seemed  to  enjoy  the  romp  as 
much  as  the  children.  It  was  an  engaging  picture,  and  the  more  I  looked 
the  more  interested  I  became  in  the  "kind  "  of  dog;  for  when  I  first  looked  I 
thought,  "What  an  athletic-built  Mastiff  that  is;"  yet,  on  closer  observation, 
I  knew  it  could  not  be  the  ordinary  English  Mastiff,  for  his  head  was  not  so 
broad,  and  was  carried  more  proudly  on  a  longer  neck,  and  higher;  and  the 
way  he  jumped  over  those  children,  and  stood  aside,  grandly  erect,  a  moment, 


THE   GREAT  DANE.  54.5 

to  allow  them  to  look  up  in  his  eyes  and  try  to  pull  themselves  over  his  back, 
was  a  position  I  never  knew  an  English  Mastiff  to  assume. 

While  debating  in  my  mind  what  kind  of  a  strain,  breed,  or  type  of  dog  it 
was,  I  suddenly  heard  a  growl;  the  dog  "  positioned"  himself  firmly  where  he 
was  standing,  about  quarter  way  across  the  road ,  threw  his  head  up,  curved 
his  neck,  and  looked  a  very  Vulcan  of  courage,  immobility,  and  defiance 
as  he  gazed  up  the  road.  The  children,  meantime,  had  rushed  up  to  him, 
clinging  around  his  neck  and  fore  shoulders.  The  scene  was  worthy  the  brush 
of — well,  I  doubt  if  there  ever  lived  an  artist  capable  of  transferring  that  life- 
picture  to  canvas. 

The  cause  of  all  the  commotion  was  the  sudden  appearance  of  two  tramps, 
who  had  a  large,  vicious-looking  specimen  of  a  fice  dog  with  them.  Talk 
about  Indians  stealthily  stealing  by  the  foe!  The  way  those  tramps  and  their 
dog  "  slid"  to  the  extreme  farther  side  of  the  road,  and  "  scooted  "  by  in  the 
most  abject  terror,  double  discounted  them,  the  protector  of  the  children  never 
moving  a  foot  the  while,  his  head  only  turning  in  line  with  the  tramps,  and  a 
low  roar  issuing  from  his  mouth  when  the  tramps  leaped  over  a  side  fence  and 
disappeared. 

Then  the  children  fairly  hugged  and  caressed  the  dog,  whose  position, 
indicative  of  every  nerve  on  tension,  was  instantly  changed  to  one  of  -'Let's 
continue  our  romp,"  proving  to  me- that  such  a  thought  as  fear  never  entered 
his  mind.  I  determined  to  learn  what  breed  of  dog  it  was,  and  to  become  the 
owner  of  one.  I  entered  the  garden  walk  to  my  right,  and  soon  ascertained 
that  the  dog  was  a  Great  Dane,  and  that  five  hundred  dollars  wouldn't  buy 
him  from  his  owner  if  offered. 

I  have  since  become  the  owner  of  a  very  good  specimen  of  the  breed; 
and  while  it  does  not  score  quite  as  high  as  the  recent  importations,  still  it 
possesses  every  merit  and  characteristic  of  the  breed  of  Great  Danes,  and 
nothing  could  induce  me  to  again  own  an  English  Mastiff  while  it  is  possible 
to  own  a  Great  Dane. 

The  following  by  Mr.  Biego,  honorable  secretary  of 
the  Great  Dane  Club  of  England,  referring  to  the  above, 
appeared  in  an  English  sporting  paper  on  November  2, 

1889: 

I  have  read  with  interest  a  letter  in  the  American  Field  of  the  14th  ultimo, 
signed  "  Wisp,"  and  headed  "  Great  Danes  versus  Mastiffs."  Without  enter- 
ing into  comparative  merits  of  the  two  breeds,  both  of  which  I  have  kept,  I 
will  at  once  proceed  to  confirm  the  generous  character  and  sagacity  of  the 
Great  Dane,  as  evinced  by  the  following  cases  among  others  which  have  come 
under  my  notice:  One  of  my  relatives,  a  farmer  in  Spain,  owned  a  mill  some 
three  miles  from  town,  and  it  was  the  miller's  practice  to  call  daily  for  the 
wheat,  which  was  conveyed  on  mules  to  the  mill  long  after  nightfall.  To 
insure  the  miller  against  possible  attack  by  depredators,  one  of  the  house- 
guards,  a  Great  Dane,  without  apparently  any  training,  would  take  upon 
himself  to  accompany  the  miller  and  his  cargo  to  the  mill,  and  the  dog  would 
35 


546  THE  AMEKICAN    BOOK   OF  THE   DOG. 

retrace  his  steps  home  as  soon  as  he  saw  the  miller  safe  at  his  destination. 
Another  relative,  who  also  kept  a  Great  Dane,  finding  his  favorite  pear-tree 
lightened  of  its  fruit,  gave  the  dog  free  access  to  his  orchard,  with  the  result 
that  next  morning  an  unsuspected  neighbor  was  found  lying  on  his  back  at  the 
foot  of  the  tree,  the  dog  standing  over  him  and  defying  him  to  move  hand  or 
foot;  but  the  man  was  still  unhurt. 

In  a  letter  to  the  American  Field,  published  January  4, 
1890,  the  writer  of  this  article  narrates  the  following: 

A  dog-fancier  in  this  city,  who  had  a  pair  of  German  Dogges  many  years 
ago,  and  lost  them,  has  had  St.  Bernards  for  several  years,  but  bought  a  Ger- 
man Dogge  not  long  ago,  and  intends  to  dispose  of  his  St.  Bernards,  because  he 
knows  the  qualities  of  the  different  kinds,  and  prefers  the  German  Dogge  to 
any  other  large  breed.  Another  dog-fancier  in  this  city,  who  kept  Newfound- 
lands for  many  years,  bought  a  German  Dogge  last  spring,  and  is  so  well 
pleased  that  he  gave  his  Newfoundlands  away,  and  does  not  want  any  other 
breed  as  long  as  he  can  get  a  German  Dogge.  This  dog,  when  bought,  was 
not  quite  a  year  old,  and  was  soon  admitted  into  the  house,  where  he  became 
the  playmate  of  his  master's  only  son,  of  about  the  same  age.  One  evening, 
when  they  had  been  playing  together  a  long  while,  the  dog  lay  down  to  take  a 
nap,  during  which  the  little  fellow  disturbed  him  by  pinching  him  and  pulling 
out  some  of  his  hair,  whereupon  the  dog  awoke  and  ^growled  fiercely.  The 
terrified  mother  saw  the  dog  look  around,  and  the  animal,  recognizing  his 
little  playmate  as  the  disturber  of  his  slumber,  licked  the  child's  hand. 

Last  summer,  I  engaged  a  young  man  to  attend  to  my  dogs,  who  made 
friends  with  them  very  soon,  and  was  permitted  by  his  wards  to  go  about 
everywhere,  and  handle  everything  on  the  place  and  in  the  house;  but  when 
he  wanted  to  go  into  the  cellar,  after  he  had  been  with  me  for  a  week,  he  was 
stopped  by  the  dogs,  and  not  allowed  to  move  until  I  came  and  told  them  to 
let  him  go  down.  Now  he  has  the  privilege  of  the  cellar,  too. 

Another  communication,  signed  UE.  G.,  Chicago,  111.," 
appeared  in  the  American  Field  of  February  1,  1890;  it  is 
headed  "  Great  Dane  Intelligence,"  and  reads  as  follows: 

As  this  noble  breed  is  daily  assuming  greater  prominence,  the  following 
narrative  of  fact  may  be  found  qf  some  slight  interest.  Several  months  since, 
the  writer  owned  a  St.  Bernard  puppy  which  had  survived  a  very  severe 
attack  of  distemper  only  to  be  stricken  by  paralysis,  and  was  sent  to  a  veter- 
inary hospital  for  treatment.  The  canine  warden  of  the  establishment — a 
young  Great  Dane,  called  Jumbo — showed  a  deep  interest  in  the  new  patient, 
apparently  comprehending  his  helpless  condition,  and  believing  that  it  called 
for  his  special  protection.  When  Prince  moaned  in  pain,  Jumbo  would  at 
once  rush  to  his  stall  and  regard  him  with  the  utmost  sympathy  and  concern; 
nor  would  he  permit  any  person  save  the  veterinarian  to  approach  the  sufferer. 

On  one  occasion,  during  Jumbo's  temporary  absence,  a  stable-boy,  in 
changing  Prince's  bedding,  was  obliged  to  disturb  him,  thereby  causing  a 


THE   GREAT   DANE.  547 

howl  of  distress.  Instantly  there  was  a  responsive  thud  of  flying  feet  along 
the  hospital  aisle,  and  Jumbo  was  upon  the  terrified  boy  like  a  fiend.  The 
vigorous  use  of  a  pitchfork  alone  prevented  serious  bodily  damage. 

Shortly  afterward,  my  wife  and  daughter  called  to  see  the  patient,  and, 
proceeding  directly  to  his  bed,  were  welcomed  with  joyful  whines.  Jumbo's 
vigilant  ear  caught  the  sound,  and  believing  it  heralded  his  charge's  distress, 
flew,  furious,  to  the  scene.  Seeing  him  pass,  the  stable-men,  who  had  received 
orders  to  confine  the  dog  when  strangers  were  present,  were  terribly  alarmed, 
and  the  veterinarian,  who  had  just  entered,  turned  sick  with  apprehension. 

Their  fears  were  groundless.  Reaching  Prince's  bed,  Jumbo's  vengeful 
aspect  gave  place  to  an  expression  of  pleasure,  as  he  comprehended  the  situa- 
tion at  a  glance,  and  knew  his  ward  was  in  the  hands  of  friends.  To  the  end 
— which  came  too  speedily— his  vigilant  care  continued,  and  we  learned  that 
every  suffering  animal  received  at  the  hospital  became  at  once  the  object  of 
Jumbo's  protection. 

Not  long  since,  a  gentleman  related  that  a  friend  of  his 
and  the  latter' s  neighbors,  living  in  the  country  in  the 
State  of  New  York,  had  been  troubled  by  tramps,  but  that 
this  annoyance  ceased  since  his  friend  had  become  the 
possessor  of  a  German  Dogge  that  is  a  menace  to  the 
tramps  and  a  faithful  protector  of  persons  and  property 
within  a  circuit  of  more  than  a  mile. 

A  few  months  ago,  Prince  Bismarck  was  met  and 
caressed  by  four  splendid  specimens  of  German  Dogges 
when  arriving  with  a  train  at  his  country-seat,  Friedrichs- 
ruhe.  One  of  them  he  received  as  a  present  from  the 
Emperor  of  Germany  shortly  after  his  dog  Tyras,  known 
all  over  the  German  Empire  and  beyond  its  limits  as  the 
"  Reichshund,"  had  died  of  wounds  received  in  the  attempt 
to  rescue  property  belonging  to  his  master  from  a  burn- 
ing building  at  Friedrichsruhe.  The  news  of  the  heroic 
death  of  the  " Reichshund"  was  telegraphed  and  cabled 
all  over  the  civilized  world  and  recorded  by  the  newspapers. 

Who  can  doubt  that  this  grand  species  of  dog  will  soon 
be  the  gentleman' s  dog  in  this  country,  as  he  has  been  in 
Germany,  for  centuries,  the  dog  of  the  student,  the  high 
officer,  the  nobleman,  the  prince?  He  accompanies  his 
master  while  walking  or  riding  in  the  carriage,  arid  follows 
with  ease  the  cavalier  on  his  fiery  steed.  Because  of  a 
mutual  attachment,  the  owner  does  not  like  to  be  without 


548 


THE  AMERICAN   BOOK   OF   THE  DOG. 


his  handsome,  cleanly  favorite,  and  admits  him  into  the 
parlor. 

But  if  the  Dogge  will  be  the  favorite  of  the  gentleman 
in  America,  he  will  rise  still  higher  in  the  estimation  of  the 
ladies  and  children.  Where  can  they  find  a  friend  as  faith- 
ful and  firm?  Where  a  protector  as  reliable,  courageous, 
and  at  the  same  time  as  tractable  as  the  German  Dogge? 
Even  when  aroused  he  is  easily  controlled.  Especially  in 
the  country  and  in  lonesome  places  this  sagacious,  clever, 
and  powerful  animal  will  be  invaluable. 


THE  ST.  BERNARD. 


BY  F.  E.  LAMB. 


>HE  real  origin  of  this  grand  dog  is  shrouded  in  mys- 
tery, for  although  we  find  records  of  his  existence 
in  Switzerland  during  the  tenth  century,  there 
appears  to  be  no  authentic  record  concerning  its  origin  or 
early  development.  It  is  evident  that  the  monks  at  Hos- 
pice and  Simplon  had  a  breed  of  dogs  which  was  named 
after  the  good  old  monk,  St.  Bernard  de  Menthon,  who 
educated  a  few  large  dogs  in  his  possession  to  traverse 
the  mountains  and  aid  or  rescue  weary  and  travel-worn 
pedestrians  who  had  attempted  to  cross  the  snow-capped 
cliffs. 

These  dogs  were  trained  to  go  out  in  pairs,  and  when 
they  succeeded  in  finding  a  belated  traveler,  one  would 
hasten  back  to  the  monastery  to  alarm  its  inmates,  while 
the  other  would  endeavor  to  arouse  the  almost  dying  man 
with  its  barking  and  other  demonstrations  of  distress. 

A  writer  in  the  Fancier' s  Gazette  says: 

The  Alpine  (or  St.  Bernard)  dog  was  not  manufactured  at  the  monastery, 
neither  was  the  variety  originated  some  centuries  after  the  death  of  St.  Bernard 
de  Menthon  himself.  On  the  contrary,  it  is  a  well-known  fact  that  the  breed 
was  in  existence — in  a  crude  and  -uncultivated  state,  I  admit,  but  still  in 
existence — long  before  the  founding  of  the  Hospice  at  St.  Bernard,  as  there 
are  specimens  of  the  old  type  to  be  found  in  some  parts  of  Switzerland  to 
this  very  day — a  breed  of  dogs  indigenous  to  the  soil,  but  which  has  been, 
with  judicious  and  careful  breeding,  so  improved  that  in  place  of  the  rugged 
mountain  dogs  of  past  ages  we  have  the  fixed  and  admirably  defined  type  of 
the  modern  St.  Bernard. 

Yero  Shaw,  in  his  valuable  work  ' '  The  Book  of  the 
Dog,"  quotes  portions  of  a  letter  from  M.  Schumacher 
regarding  the  origin  and  early  history  of  the  St.  Bernard, 
which  I  take  the  liberty  of  reproducing  here,  meantime 

(549) 


550  THE   AMERICAN   BOOK   OF  THE  DOG. 

acknowledging  my  obligations  to  Mr.  Shaw  and  his  pub- 
lishers, Messrs.  Cassell  &  Co.,  for  the  use  of  same.  The 
letter  is  as  follows: 

According  to  the  tradition  of  the  holy  fathers  of  the  great  St.  Bernard, 
their  race  descends  from  the  crossing  of  a  bitch  (a  Bulldog  species)  of  Den- 
mark and  a  Mastiff  (Shepherd's  dog)  of  the  Pyrenees.  The  descendants  of  this 
crossing,  who  have  inherited  from  the  Danish  dog  its  extraordinary  size  and 
bodily  strength  of  the  one  part,  and  from  the  Pyrenean  Mastiff  the  intelligence, 
the  exquisite  sense  of  smell,  and  at  the  same  time  the  faithfulness  and  sagacity, 
of  the  other  part,  have  acquired  in  the  space  of  five  centuries  so  glorious  a 
notoriety  throughout  Europe  that  they  well  merit  the  name  of  a  distinct  race 
for  themselves. 

In  winter  the  service  of  the  male  dogs  (the  females  are  employed  or 
engaged  only  at  the  last  extremity)  is  regulated  as  follows:  Two  dogs,  one  old 
and  one  young,  travel  over  every  morning  the  route  on  the  Italian  side  of  the 
mountain  toward  Aosta.  Two  more  make  the  voyage  on  the  Swiss  side, 
toward  Martigny,  to  a  distance  of  about  nine  miles  from  the  Hospice.  They 
all  go  just  to  the  last  cabins  of  refuge  that  have  been  constructed  for  the 
benefit  of  travelers.  Even  when  the  snow  has  fallen  during  the  night,  the  dogs 
find  their  way  surely  and  correctly,  and  do  not  deviate  from  the  beaten  way  a 
yard.  The  marks  of  their  feet  leave  a  track  which  is  easy  for  travelers  to  fol- 
low as  far  as  the  Hospice.  Two  dogs  are  made  to  go  over  the  same  road 
together,  so  if  one  perishes  it  is  replaced  by  another — a  young  one,  who  is 
instructed  and  trained  by  the  surviving  dog,  of  which  he  is  the  pupil.  AVhen 
the  dogs  arrive  at  the  cabins  of  refuge,  they  enter  them  to  see  if  there  are  any 
travelers  seeking  shelter  there,  in  which  case  they  entice  them  to  follow.  If 
they  find  any  travelers  who  have  succumbed  to  the  cold,  the  dogs  try  to  revive 
them  by  imparting  warmth  in  licking  their  hands  and  face,  which  not  seldom 
produces  the  desired  effect.  If  these  means  are  inefficient,  they  return  in  all 
speed  to  the  Hospice,  where  they  know  how  to  make  themselves  understood. 
.,  .  ». .  .  The  monks  immediately  set  out,  well  provided  with  means  of 
recovery. 

In  1812  a  terrible  snow-storm  took  place,  and  the  aid  of  the  monks  and 
dogs  was  so  constantly  required  that  even  the  female  dogs,  the  most  feeble  ani- 
mals, were  called  into  requisition,  and  perished.  There  were  a  sufficient  num- 
ber of  males  left,  but  not  a  single  female.  How  was  the  breed  to  be  kept  up? 
The  monks  resolved  to  obtain  some  females  of  the  Newfoundland  breed,  cele- 
brated for  their  strength,  and  accustomed  to  a  cold  climate.  This  idea  turned 
out  useless  when  put  in  practice,  because  the  young  dogs  had  long  hair.  In 
winter  this  long  hair  so  collected  the  snow  that  the  poor  beasts  succumbed 
under  its  weight  and  perished.  The  monks  then  tried  crossing  one  of  their 
own  dogs  with  the  offspring  of  the  cross  breed,  with  their  short,  stubby  hair. 
At  last  this  plan  succeeded.  From  that  bastard  female  dog  they  have  recon- 
stituted the  race  of  dogs  that  are  now  at  the  Hospice.  These  dogs,  notwith- 
standing their  cross  with  the  Newfoundland,  have  the  same  valor  and  courage 
as  the  ancient  race,  because,  by  an  intelligent  and  systematic  choice,  they  rear 


THE   ST.  BEKNAKD. 


551 


for  service  and  reproduction  only  the  puppies  who  approach  the  nearest,  by 
their  exterior  form  and  appearance,  to  the  original  and  fatherly  race.  Those 
that  proved  themselves  unable  to  sustain  the  work,  or  who  from  their  long 
hair  were  disabled,  were  either  given  as  souvenirs  to  friends  of  the  Hospice,  or 
else  sold.  Of  such  are  those  that  have  been  sold  to  M.  de  Pourtaltjs,  at  Mett- 
lin,  near  Berne,  and  to  M.  Rougemont,  at  Loewenberg,  near  Morat.  These 
dogs  come  directly  from  the  Hospice,  where  they  are  not  fit  for  work  on 
account  of  their  long  hair,  but  are  distinguished  by  their  colossal  size  and 


ROUGH-COATED    ST.   BERNARD— SIR    BED1VERE. 


excellent  qualities.  They  always  retain  in  the  Hospice  the  finest  dogs,  and 
train  them  for  service;  those  who  do  not  possess  all  the  marks  of  genuine  breed 
are  given  away  or  sold,  because  among  the  number  they  still  find  some  pup- 
pies with  long  hair,  who  thus  reveal  their  motherly  ancestry. 

It  is  now  some  ten  years  since  it  could  be  read  in  many  of  the  papers  that 
a  Mr.  Essig,  of  Leonberg,  had  presented  to  the  Hospice  a  couple  of  dogs  of  the 
celebrated  Leonberg  breed,  which  is  extraordinarily  large  and  handsome.  His 
intention  was  laudable  and  worthy  of  acknowledgment.  But  these  dogs 
shared  the  same  fate  as  those  of  Newfoundland  some  fifty  years  previous. 


552  THE  AMERICAN   BOOK   OF  THE   DOG. 

Their  long  hair  was  their  ruin;  they  perished;  and  at  present  there  does  not 
exist  in  the  Hospice  a  single  trace  of  these  beautiful  dogs  of  Leonberg. 

As  already  said,  the  Count  of  Rougemont,  at  Loewenberg,  near  Morat, 
possessed  a  couple  of  superb  dogs,  which  were  presented  to  him  from  the 
Hospice,  because  they  were  not  good  enough  for  the  work  on  account  of  their 
long  hair.  These  dogs  were  very  large  and  very  handsome ;  the  color  of  their 
coats  was  a  red-brown,  and  they  had  white  spots  on  their  feet,  their  necks, 
their  breasts,  and  their  noses  (?  muzzle).  They  were  on  the  paternal  side  of 
the  ancient  Bernardine  race,  and  on  the  maternal  side  of  the  Newfoundland 
race.  Several  litters  of  puppies  were  reared  from  this  couple,  which  were 
given  away  and  sold,  and  thus  became  spread  about.  In  1854  the  female  dog- 
gave  birth,  among  others,  to  a  little  puppy  of  wretched  appearance,  spotted 
white  and  brown,  which  was  not  at  all  valued  by  the  owner.  This  wretched- 
looking  little  puppy  was  sold  as  a  miserable  abortion  to  Mr.  Klopfenstein,  of 
Neunegg,  who  trained  it  with  care  and  attention.  It  prospered  marvelously, 
and  growing  up,  attained  a  striking  likeness  to  Barry,  the  most  beautiful  speci- 
men of  the  ancient  unmixed  race,  which  is  now  preserved  in  the  museum  at 
Berne.  Its  resemblance  was  so  remarkable  in  regard  to  external  appearance 
and  color  of  its  hair,  that  when  I  saw  the  dog  for  the  first  time  I  resolved  to 
obtain  it  at  whatever  sacrifice. 

I  bought,  then,  this  dog  in  1855,  it  being  a  year  old,  and  called  it  Barry,  on 
account  of  its  striking  resemblance  to  its  illustrious  ancestor.  I  entrusted  it  to 
Baron  Judd,  at  Glockenthal,  near  Thun,  and  both  of  us  reared  some  young 
dogs  during  many  years,  but  without  success.  Never  could  we  get  young  dogs 
resembling  the  original  race  until  1863,  when  a  puppy  was  born  from  the  bitch 
Weyerman,  of  Interlaken,  of  which  Barry  was  the  father.  This  puppy,  named 
Sultan,  which  was  the  image  of  Barry,  came  into  my  possession. 

I  bred  from  Sultan  without  success  until  I  received  a  bitch  from  Saint 
Galles  whose  father  had  been  one  of  the  St.  Bernard  dogs.  This  bitch,  named 
Diana,  with  Sultan,  produced  such  beautiful  puppies  that  at  last  I  saw  my  end 
achieved.  At  the  second  birth  were  two,  male  and  female,  so  surpassingly  fine 
that  I  resolved  in  silence  to  present  them  as  a  gift  to  the  Hospice,  in  the  belief 
that  these  dogs,  habituated  now  to  the  fourth  generation  to  a  temperate  cli- 
mate, well  selected  from  generation  to  generation,  would  invigorate  and 
regenerate  the  ancient  race  with  the  descendants  of  its  proper  blood.  The 
gift  was  accepted.  I  took  them  when  they  were  seven  years  old,  in  January, 
1866,  to  Martigny,  where  some  of  the  old  brothers  pass  the  winter.  The 
oldest  of  the  monks  received  me  with  this  exclamation:  "Mais,  mon  Dieu, 
c'est  comme  le  meux  Barry!  "  (Why,  it  is  exactly  like  the  old  Barry! ).  I  asked 
him  which  Barry  he  alluded  to.  "  Why,"  said  he,  "  to  the  one  that  is  stuffed 
at  Berne;  "  and  then  he  continued  to  relate  that  in  the  year  1815  he  had  him- 
self taken  Barry,  then  living,  on  foot  to  Berne,  where  he  was  killed  and  stuffed. 
The  old  man  wept  with  joy,  and  said,  without  ceasing :  "(Jo,  donnera  Barry, 
le  vrai  meux  Barry;  gue  je  suis  heureux !  "  (This  is  Barry,  the  genuine  old 
Barry;  how  happy  I  am!).  There  are  at  the  present  time  (1867)  at  the  Hospice 
some  young  puppies  of  Barry  that  promise  well,  and  which  will  be,  according 
to  all  appearances,  still  finer  and  larger  than  Barry  himself. 


THE   ST.   BERNARD.  553 

The  St.  Bernard  as  we  find  him  about  the  beginning  of 
the  present  century  was  much  the  same  as  we  know  him  at 
this  time,  an  animal  of  great  size,  immense  bone,  and  a  large 
head  expressive  of  great  character  and  intelligence.  There 
existed  then,  as  now,  two  varieties — the  rough  or  long  haired 
and  the  smogth  or  short  haired.  The  latter  were  preferred 
by  the  monks,  for  when  the  dogs  were  obliged  to  go  out  on 
their  errands  of  mercy  in  heavy  snow-storms,  the  rough 
coats  of  the  former  would  in  a  short  time  become  matted, 
and  owing  to  continued  exposure,  colds,  rheumatism,  and 
kindred  troubles  would  ensue,  thus  rendering  them  unfit 
for  duty  at  times.  Hence  the  long-haired  type  came  to  be 
looked  upon  with  disfavor,  and  numerous  specimens  were 
given  away,  from  time  to  time,  to  persons  who  visited  the 
monastery.  In  this  way  the  breed  was  introduced  pretty 
generally  into  the  south  of  France  and  throughout  all  of 
Switzerland. 

Several  authorities  on  the  subject  tell  us  that  about  the 
year  1810,  through  the  effects  of  a  terrible  avalanche,  all 
the  dogs  owned  at  the  Hospice  were  swept  away  and  killed. 

After  this  a  pair  that  had  been  given  away  when  mere 
puppies  were  returned,  and  from  these  alone  the  true  St. 
Bernard  of  to-day  is  descended. 

"Idstone"  gives  a  different  version  of  this  affair.  He 
says: 

The  breed  of  St.  Bernards  has  undergone  some  changes  within  the  last  half 
century.  A  pest  or  virulent  distemper  at  one  time  carried  off  all  the  dogs  of 
this  breed  but  one,  and  that,  I  believe,  was  crossed  with  the  Pyrenean  Wolf- 
hound. 

Whether  this  be  true  or  not,  there  can  be  no  doubt  that 
during  the  several  centuries  of  its  existence  as  a  breed 
there  have  been  many  crosses  and  experiments  made  to 
develop  its  strength,  scent,  and  endurance,  and  this  fact 
probably  accounts  for  the  great  variety  which  we  now  find 
existing  among  our  best  dogs. 

The  first  St.  Bernard  of  which  any  authentic  history 
exists  is  the  now  famous  Old  Barry.  This  dog  was 
descended  from  the  pair  returned  to  the  monks  after  their 


554  THE   AMERICAN    BOOK    OF   THE   DOG. 

loss,  and  he  is  reported  to  have  saved  the  lives  of  forty-two 
persons  in  the  mountains  of  Switzerland. 

It  is  from  this  celebrated  dog  that  Schumacher's  Barry  I. 
traces  his  pedigree,  and  from  the  unipn  of  this  dog  with  a 
bitch  at  the  Hospice  that  Sultan  I.  was  produced.  Favorita 
I.  and  Toni  I.  were  bred  from  Sultan,  out  of  Diana  I. ,  and 
to  these  dogs  and  their  litter  brothers  and  sisters  is  as  far 
back  as  any  authentic  St.  Bernard  pedigree  can  be  traced. 
Herr  Schumacher,  of  Holligen,  Switzerland,  is  the  man 
to  whom  we  are  indebted  for  the  introduction  of  the  breed 
into  England,  and  from  thence  into  this  country.  It  was 
from  his  kennels  that  the  Rev.  J.  C.  Macdona  and  Mr. 
Dillon  (who  are  considered  the  first  to  import  St.  Bernards) 
secured  their  stock.  Mr.  Macdona' s  Champion  Tell  was 
considered  for  many  years  the  best  smooth-coated  dog  in 
existence.  He  was  thirty  and  one -half  inches  high  at  the 
shoulder,  and  weighed  only  one  hundred  and  fifty  pounds 
in  his  best  condition.  His  skull  measurement  was  but 
twenty-two  inches.  By  comparing  these  measurements 
with  those  of  the  largest  dogs  of  to- day,  we  may  obtain  a 
good  idea  of  the  great  improvement  that  has  been  made, 
within  a  comparatively  few  years,  not  only  in  size,  but  in 
type,  if  we  are  to  judge  from  the  paintings  of  the  famous 
dogs  of  eighteen  and  twenty  years  ago.  A  few  years  later, 
Mr.  Macdona  imported  into  England  Thor,  afterward  a 
champion,  and  Jura,  two  grand  rough-coated  specimens,  and 
achieved  great  success  with  them  on  the  bench. 

It  might  be  well  to  note  here,  that  although  bench  shows 
have  been  held  for  the  past  eighty  years,  yet  it  was  not 
until  at  a  show  held  in  Cremorne,  in  March,  1863,  that  a 
class  was  made  for  St.  Bernards.  Prizes  were  won  at  this 
show  by  Bates'  Monk  and  Stone's  Monk,  both  having  been 
imported  from  the  Hospice  when  puppies.  From  this  time 
on  the  breed  grew  in  favor  and  in  popularity,  and  grad- 
ually came  to  occupy  the  conspicuous  place  in  which  we 
now  find  it  at  our  shows. 

No  standard  of  points,  color,  or  markings  was  adopted 
to  guide  the  breeder  or  exhibitor  until  1886,  when  the  Swiss 


THE   ST.  BERNARD.  555 

Kynological  Society  adopted  a  standard,  which,  while  ap- 
proved by  many  fanciers,  was  not  generally  accepted.  At 
an  international  congress  held  in  Zurich  for  the  pur- 
pose, a  standard  of  points  was  adopted,  which  was  shortly 
afterward  approved  by  the  St.  Bernard  clubs  of  England 
and  of  America.  We  give  it  herewith  in  full. 

STANDARD   OF   POINTS — THE   SMOOTH   ST.   BERNARD. 

General  character. — Powerful,  tall,  upstanding,  with 
hard  muscular  development.  Massive  head  and  very  intel- 
ligent expression.  In  dogs  with  dark  face -markings  the 
expression  is  more  solemn,  but  should  never  be  sour. 

Head. — Like  the  body,  very  powerful  and  imposing;  the 
massive  skull  is  wide,  slightly  arched,  and  sloping  at  the 
sides,  with  a  gentle  curve  into  the  well-developed  cheek- 
bones. 

Occiput. — Only  slightly  developed.  The  supra-orbital 
ridge  is  strongly  developed,  and  forms  nearly  a  right-angle 
with  the  horizontal  axis  of  the  head.  Between  the  supra- 
orbital  arches  at  the  root  of  the  muzzle  begins  a  deep  fur- 
row, which,  clearly  denned  in  the  first  half,  extends  over 
the  whole  skull,  getting  gradually  shallow  toward  the 
occiput.  The  lines  at  the  sides,  from  the  outer  corners  of 
the  eyes,  diverge  considerably  toward  the  back  of  the  head. 
The  skin  on  the  forehead  forms  over  the  supra-orbital 
arches  deep  wrinkles,  which  converge  toward  the  above- 
mentioned  furrow.  They  are  particularly  noticeable  when 
the  animal  is  very  animated,  without  giving  a  savage 
expression. 

Stop. — Clearly  defined. 

Muzzle. — Short,  not  snipy,  and  an  imaginary  line  through 
the  muzzle,  straight  down  from  the  stop,  must  be  longer 
than  the  length  of  the  muzzle.  The  bridge  of  the  muzzle 
is  straight,  not  arched,  and,  in  some  good  dogs,  slightly 
broken.  From  the  root  of  the  muzzle  or  stop  descends  its 
whole  length  to  the  nose  a  rather  wide,  well-marked,  shal- 
low furrow.  The  strongly  developed  lips  of  the  upper  jaw 
do  not  form  an  angle  at  the  turning  point,  but  slope  with 


556  THE   AMERICAN   BOOK  OF   THE   DOG. 

a  graceful  curve  into  their  lower  edge,  and  are  slightly  over- 
hanging. The  lips  of  the  lower  jaw  must  not  be  pendent. 
Teeth,  in  proportion  to  the  size  of  the  head,  only  moderately 
large. 

Nose. — Very  substantial  and  broad,  with  well-dilated 
nostrils,  and,  like  the  lips,  always  black. 

Ears. — Medium-sized,  with  the  burr  strongly  developed, 
which  causes  them  to  stand  away  slightly  at  the  base,  and 
bending  suddenly  they  drop  without  any  curl  close  to  the 
side  of  the  head.  The  flaps  are  not  too  leathery,  and  form 
rounded  triangles  slightly  elongated  toward  the  points. 
The  front  edge  ought  to  be  close  to  the  head,  but  the  back 
edge  may  stand  away  a  little,  particularly  when  the  dog  is 
in  attention.  Ears  with  weak  burr,  causing  them  to  lie 
close  to  the  head  from  their  roots,  give  it  an  oval  shape, 
which  imparts  too  much  softness  to  the  outline,  whereas 
strongly  developed  ear-muscles  make  the  skull  appear  more 
angular  and  wider,  thus  giving  the  head  more  character. 

Eyes. — Set  more  to  the  front  than  to  the  sides;  are  of 
moderate  size,  brown  or  nut-brown,  with  an  intelligent  and 
friendly  expression;  set  moderately  deep.  The  lower  eye- 
lids do  not,  as  a  rule,  fit  close  to  the  eyeballs,  and  form 
toward  the  inner  corner  an  angular  wrinkle.  Eyelids  which 
are  too  pendent,  with  conspicuously  protruding  lachrymal 
glands,  or  a  very  red  haw,  are  objectionable. 

Neck. — Set  on  high,  and  carried  upright  when  the  ani- 
mal is  animated,  otherwise  horizontal  or  slightly  down- 
ward. The  junction  between  head  and  neck  is  distinctly 
indicated.  The  neck  is  very  muscular,  and  rounded  at  the 
sides,  giving  it  an  appearance  of  shortness.  Clearly  notice- 
able dewlaps,  but  a  too  great  development  not  desirable. 

Shoulders. — Sloping  and  broad,  very  muscular  and  pow- 
erful. The  part  of  the  body  answering  to  the  withers  in 
the  horse,  well  developed. 

Chest.—  Well  arched,  moderately  deep,  not  reaching  be- 
low the  elbows. 

Back.— Very  broad,  and  only  slightly  arched  over  the 
loins,  otherwise  straight  to  the  hip;  and  from  the  hip, 


THE   ST.  BERNARD.  557 

gently  sloping  to  the  rump,  it  merges  gradually  into  the 
tail.  Hind  quarters  well  developed;  legs  very  muscular. 

Belly. — Only  slightly  drawn  up,  and  showing  distinctly 
where  it  joins  the  very  powerful  region  of  the  kidneys. 

Tail. — Starting  broad  and  powerful  directly  from  the 
rump,  is  long,  very  heavy,  ending  in  a  blunt  tip.  In  repose 
it  hangs  straight  down,  turning  gently  upward  in  the 
lower  third.  In  many  specimens  is  slightly  turned  up,  and 
hangs,  therefore,  in  shape  of  an  f;  in  excitement  all  dogs 


ROUGH-COATED  ST.  BERNARD— PRINCE   REGENT. 
Owned  by  Mr.  J.  C.   Anderson,   Chattanooga,  Tenn. 

carry  their  tails  more  or  less  raised,  but  it  must  not  go  to 
the  extent  of  being  erect,  or  even  curled  over  the  back;  a 
slight  curling  round  of  the  tip  is  sooner  admissible. 

Arms. — Very  powerful,  and  extraordinarily  muscular. 

Fore-arms. — Straight  and  strong. 

Hind  legs. — Slightly  bent  in  the  hocks,  and,  according 
to  the  presence  of  single  or  double  dew-claws,  the  feet  turn 
outward  more  or  less,  which,  however,  must  not  be  under- 
stood to  mean  cow-hocked. 

Feet.—  Broad,  with  strong  toes,  moderately  well  closed 


558  THE   AMEEICAN   BOOK   OF  THE   DOG. 

up,  and  knuckles  rather  high.  The  single  or  double  dew- 
claws  set  on  low,  so  as  to  be  almost  on  a  level  with  the  pad 
of  the  foot,  giving  a  greater  surface,  and  preventing  the 
dog  from  breaking  so  easily  through  the  snow.  There  are 
dogs  which  have  on  their  hind  feet  a  regularly  developed 
fifth  toe  or  thumb.  The  so-called  dew-claws  (wolf sklauen), 
which  sometimes  occur  on  the  inside  of  the  hind  legs,  are 
imperfectly  developed  toes;  they  are  of  no  use  to  the  dog, 
and  are  not  taken  into  consideration  in  judging. 

Coat. — Very  dense,  broken-haired,  lying  smooth;  hard, 
without  being  rough  to  the  touch.  Thighs  are  slightly 
feathered.  The  hair  at  the  root  of  the  tail  is  rather  long 
and  dense,  getting  gradually  shorter  toward  the  point. 
The  tail  appears  bushy,  but  not  feathered. 

Color. — White  with  red,  or  red  with  white,  the  red  in 
all  its  various  shades;  white  with  light  to  dark  barred 
brindle  patches,  or  these  colors  with  white  markings.  The 
colors  red,  brindle,  and  tawny  are  of  equal  value.  Obliga- 
tory markings  are  white  chest,  feet,  point  of  tail,  and  white 
round  the  nose  and  collar.  The  white  spot  on  the  nape  of 
the  neck  and  a  blaze  are  much  desired.  Never  self-colored 
or  without  any  white.  All  other  colors  are  faulty,  except 
the  favorite  dark  shadings  in  the  face-markings  and  on 
the  ears. 

Height  at  shoulder. — Dogs  (measured  with  the  Hound 
measure)  ought  not  to  be  less  than  75  centimeters,  (29£ 
inches),  and  bitches  70  centimeters  (27J  inches).  The 
bitches  are  throughout  of  a  less  powerful  and  slighter  build 
than  the  dogs. 

Variations  from  these  points  are  to  be  considered  faulty. 

The  long-haired  (rough)  St.  Bernard  is  exactly  like  the 
other,  with  the  exception  of  the  coat,  which  ought  not  to 
be  broken-haired,  but  of  medium  length,  smooth  or  slightly 
wavy,  never  very  wavy,  curly,  or  shaggy. 

The  coat  is,  as  a  rule,  more  wavy  on  the  back,  particu- 
larly in  the  region  of  the  hip  and  rump.  The  same  thing 
is  slightly  noticeable  in  the  short-haired,  even  the  Hospice 
dogs. 


THE   ST.  BERNARD.  559 

The  tail  is  bushy,  with  much  but  moderately  long  hair. 
Wavy  or  locky  hair  on  the  tail  is  not  desirable.  A 
feathered  tail,  or  one  with  a  parting,  is  faulty. 

Face  and  ears  covered  with  soft  hair.  At  the  basis  of 
the  ears,  longer  silky  hair  is  permissible;  in  fact,  this 
occurs  nearly  always,  and  must  be  considered  normal.  The 
feather  on  the  fore  legs  is  only  slight,  but  on  the  thighs  it 
appears  bushy. 

Faults  are  all  formations  which  indicate  a  Newfound- 
land cross,  such  as  a  saddle-back  and  a  disproportionately 
long  back,  hocks  too  much  bent,  and  spaces  between  the 
toes  with  upward-growing  hair. 

There%  has  been  considerable  controversy  regarding  the 
exact  number  on  the  scale  of  100  that  each  point  should 
count.  There  has  never  been  adopted  a  scale  of  this  kind, 
as  "point  judging,"  as  it  is  termed,  is  but  seldom  resorted 
to.  However,  the  following  scale  is  popular  with  many  of 
the  English  judges  of  the  St.  Bernard,  and  as  a  matter  of 
information  we  give  it  space: 

SCALE  OF  POINTS. 

Value.  Value. 

Head 20    Coat 10 

Neck  and  shoulders 5    Color  and  markings. 10 

Chest  and  loin 5    Size 15 

Body 10    Character  and  symmetry 10 

Tail  5 

Legs  and  feet 10  Total 100 

Regarding  the  question  of  coat,  there  is  great  diversity 
of  taste  and  opinion  among  American  fanciers;  but  many 
prominent  breeders  are  endeavoring  to  accomplish  greater 
uniformity  in  this  matter,  and  it  is  to  be  hoped  that  in 
future  the  St.  Bernard  exhibits  at  our  shows  may  not  pre- 
sent such  bewildering  and  unintelligible  displays  of  coat, 
in  both  rough  and  smooth  variety,  as  we  now  often  see. 
Mr.  K.  E.  Hopf,  one  of  our  most  prominent  breeders, 
recently  discussed  this  subject  in  a  most  interesting  letter 
to  one  of  the  sportsmen's  journals.  He  says: 

Many  people  believe  that  the  short-haired  and  long-haired  St.  Bernard  are 
two  distinct  breeds,  and  that  the  latter  is  not  so  pure  as  the  former.     This  is 


560  THE   AMERICAN   BOOK   OF  THE   DOG. 

no  more  the  case  in  the  St.  Bernard  than  in  the  Collie.  The  idea  originates, 
undoubtedly,  from  the  fact  that  the  monks  use  smooth-coats  only. 

It  is  not  generally  known  that,  as  far  back  as  there  is  any  history  of  the 
breed,  rough  coaled  puppies  were  found  in  litters  from  smooth-coated  parents. 
Such  was  the  case  long  before  the  Newfoundland  made  its  appearance  in 
Switzerland.  The  monks,  however,  had  no  use  for  long-haired  puppies,  and 
hence  gave  them  to  their  friends  and  patrons.  Since  the  breed  has  become  so 
well  known,  they  have  sold  many  of  them  at  round  figures,  thus  making  their 
kennels  more  or  less  self-supporting.  In  view  of  the  above-stated  facts,  the 
question  arises,  How  is  it  that  some  of  the  progeny  of  smooth-coats  have  long 
coats?  Those  of  your  readers  who  have  visited  the  mountain  fastnesses  of  the 
Alps,  where  the  winter  lasts  from  September  until  May,  and  where  during 
the  remaining  four  months  it  is  cold,  or  those  who  have  traveled  or  lived  in 
the  Northwest,  and  know  what  snow-storms  and  blizzards  are,  will  readily 
understand  that  neither  a  Pointer  nor  a  Setter  would  be  comfortable  in  either 
place,  out  of  doors,  in  a  stormy  winter's  day.  Not  only  would  they  not 
be  comfortable,  but  in  many  instances  it  would  be  certain  death  to  them. 
And  why?  Because  the  Pointer's  coat  would  be  no  protection  to  him  and  the 
Setter's  would  be  a  detriment,  Sportsmen  know  that  if  a  Setter  while  in  the 
field  gets  full  of  burs,  he  will,  game  or  no  game,  sit  down  and  endeavor  to 
free  himself  from  them.  While  so  doing  his  attention  is  entirely  centered  on 
himself.  He  would  do  the  same  should  his  legs  and  feet  get  so  full  of  ice  or 
frozen  snow  as  to  hinder  him  in  his  movements.  In  respect  to  the  Mastiff  and 
Newfoundland,  the  case  would  almost  be  a  similar  one,  as  far  as  coat  is  con- 
cerned, except  that  the  Newfoundland,  if  he  be  of  the  curly-coated  variety, 
would  be  still  worse  off  than  the  Setter  with  his  flat  coat.  The  Mastiff  and 
Newfoundland,  however,  would  have  greater  size  and  strength  in  their  favor. 

The  kind  of  a  coat,  therefore,  that  is  needed  for  mountain  service  is 
exactly  that  found  in  the  short-haired  mountain  St.  Bernard — neither  too  short 
nor  too  long,  dense  and  smooth,  such  as  is  called  ' '  stock-haarig  "  in  Switzer- 
land; a  coat  that  will  be  a  protection  in  the  coldest  weather,  and  yet  short 
enough  to  prevent  its  being  clogged  by  snow  and  ice.  Whether  this  coat  was 
produced  by  systematic  crossing  of  short-haired  and  long-haired  dogs,  or 
whether  it  is  a  freak  of  nature,  I  can  not  say;  but  I  am  inclined  to  believe  the 
former,  on  account  of  the  frequent  appearance  of  rough-coated  puppies  in 
litters  fiom  smooth-coats,  and  vice  versa.  In  other  words,  the  difference  in 
coat  in  the  breeds  from  which  the  St.  Bernard  has  its  origin  continues  to  mani- 
fest itself  in  the  progeny.  Nature  has  no  doubt  done  its  part  also,  for  we  find  in 
dogs  bred  in  the  mountains  a  much  denser  coat  than  in  dogs  bred  in  the  low- 
lands; and,  as  the  under  coat  is  shed  in  summer,  so  the  coat  becomes  shorter 
and  lighter  in  St.  Bernards  transported  from  their  mountain  home  into  a 
warmer  zone. 

As  to  the  distinction  that  is  made  in  this  country  between  the  short-haired 
and  long-haired  variety  (not  breed),  one  can  not  go  wrong  in  following  the 
custom  that  prevails  in  Switzerland  and  England.  Apart  from  the  difference 
in  coat,  there  are  slight  differences  between  the  two  species;  yet  the  type  is  the 
same,  and  it  is  certainly  advisable  to  separate  them  at  shows,  as  is  done  with 


THE   ST.  BERNAKD.  561 

rough  and  smooth  Collies.  In  the  long-haired  St.  Bernard,  the  coat  has  a 
great  deal  to  do  with  the  general  appearance  of  the  dog,  when  comparing  him 
with  others  in  the  same  class;  in  the  short-haired  variety,  the  coat  is  more  uni- 
form, and,  whether  a  dog  be  out  of  coat  or  whether  the  coat  be  of  the  correct 
quality  or  not,  the  nature  of  the  coat  is  more  readily  overlooked.  Place  a 
smooth-coat  alongside  of  a  rough-coat  of  the  same  height  and  weight,  and  you 
will  invariably  decide  in  favor  of  the  latter,  as  to  size,  when  not  seeing  them 
together.  The  smooth-coat  is  of  a  more  compact  build  and  shorter  than  the 
rough-coat,  generally  speaking. 

There  is  no  reason  to  fear  that  the  crossing  of  the  two  varieties  will  be  at 
the  expense  of  type;  on  the  contrary,  it  is  necessary.  This  fact  has  been 
demonstrated  in  England,  and  the  continuous  breeding  of  rough-coats  with 
rough-coats  has  taught  English  breeders  that  the  breed  loses  in  type;  and  in 
order  to  get  back  to  genuine  St.  Bernard  quality  they  have  imported,  and  still 
import,  smooth-coats,  especially  bitches,  from  Switzerland. 

The  coat  is  also  liable  to  grow  too  long,  and  the  longer  it  gets  the  farther  it 
is  from  the  proper  form.  According  to  the  standard  of  the  Swiss  Kynological 
Society,  the  rough-coated  St.  Bernard  is  supposed  to  have  a  coat  of  medium 
length,  not  bushy  or  shaggy,  not  curly  or  too  wavy,  but  flat,  only  slightly 
feathered  on  the  fore  legs;  and  yet  with  many  Americans  the  longer  the  hair 
the  more  the  coat  is  appreciated.  This  is  wrong,  but  such  is  the  fancy. 

The  development  of  St.  Bernard  interests  in  Amer- 
ica has  been  remarkably  rapid  during  the  past  ten  years, 
and  is  illustrative  of  that  enterprising  spirit  and  that 
marked  liberality  with  which  Americans  always  engage  in 
any  work  that  enlists  their  sympathy.  As  illustrative  of 
the  magnitude  of  this  movement,  it  is  only  necessary  to 
state  that  at  the  New  York  show  of  1890  the  St.  Bernard 
entries  numbered  151;  at  the  Chicago  show  of  the  same 
year  they  numbered  58;  at  Boston,  59;  and  at  all  the  other 
shows  the  entries  in  this  breed  more  than  doubled  in  num- 
ber those  of  any  previous  year. 

The  total  investments  in  St.  Bernards  in  this  country 
would  run  into  millions  of  dollars,  and  some  of  the  choicest 
blood  of  Europe  has  within  the  past  few  years  found  its 
way  into  American  kennels. 

The  following  may  be  mentioned  as  among  the  many 
breeders  and  owners  of  St.  Bernards  in  America: 

Alta  Kennels,  Toledo,  Ohio;  American  St.  Bernard  Ken- 
nels, Tomah,  Wis.;  Acme  Kennels,  263  Twenty-seventh 
street,  Milwaukee,  Wis.;  H.  R.  Anderson,  New  York  City; 
J.  C.  Anderson,  Chattanooga,  Tenn. ;  Alpine  Kennels,  Thir- 


562  THE   AMEEICAN   BOOK   OF  THE  DOG.    » 

ty-eighth  street  and  First  avenue,  New  York  City;  C.  W. 
Bickford,  Boston  Tavern,  Boston,  Mass.;  Thomas  Burke, 
Bridgeport,  Conn. ;  Charles  T.  Barney,  84  Broadway,  New 
York  City;  Contoocook  Kennels,  Peterborough,  N.  H. ; 
Chequasset  Kennels,  Lancaster,  Mass. ;  A.  Russell  Crowell, 
Boston,  Mass.;  Cook  Kennels,  Detroit,  Mich.;  Dr.  P.  A. 
Dennison,  170  Sach  avenue,  Brooklyn,  N.  Y. ;  W.  S.  Dif- 
fendeffer,  220  North  Charles  street,  Baltimore,  Md.;  Lo- 
renzo Daniels,  Mont  Clair,  N.  J. ;  Erminie  Kennels,  Mount 
Vernon,  N.  Y.;  Elmwood  Kennels,  South  Farmington, 
Mass. ;  George  H.  Eddy,  2  State  street,  Boston,  Mass. ;  W. 
T.  Eraser,  Detroit,  Mich.;  Ed.  H.  Greiner,  621  Main  street, 
Buffalo,  N.  Y. ;  Halfway  Brook  Kennels,  Glens  Falls,  N. 
Y.;  Hospice  Kennels,  Arlington,  N.  J. ;  W.  R.  Huntlngton, 
Cleveland,  Ohio;  Mrs.  H.  Hughes,  Box  961,  Joliet,  111. ;  P. 
L.  Hanscom,  Oak  Park,  111.;  J.  C.  Hobart,  149  Wabash 
avenue,  Chicago,  111. ;  James  F.  Hall,  Philadelphia,  Penn. ; 
Iroquois  Kennels,  Tonawanda,  N.  Y. ;  W.  A.  Joeckel,  Jr., 
Hoboken,  N.  J. ;  John  Kervan,  195  King  street,  Brooklyn, 
N.  Y.;  L.  T.  Kinney,  Grand  Rapids,  Mich.;  Eugene  Kel- 
mel,  121  Pinchon  street,  Boston,  Mass. ;  Keystone  Kennels, 
1220  Carson  street,  Pittsburgh,  Penn. ;  Dr.  C.  A.  Longest, 
429  Grove  street,  Jersey  City,  N.  J. ;  J.  B.  Lewis,  Belle- 
ville, Ohio;  E.  H.  Moore,  Melrose,  Mass.;  John  Marshall, 
Sheridan  avenue,  Troy,  N.  Y.;  James  Mortimer,  Babylon, 
Long  Island,  N.  Y. ;  Meadowthorpe  Kennels,  Lexington, 
Ky.;  Daniel  Mann,  316  East  Twentieth  street,  New  York 
City;  Mrs.  J.  M.  Nicholson,  Albany,  N.  Y.;  Namquoit 
Kennels,  Boston,  Mass.;  Oakhurst,  Kennels,  Chicago,  111.; 
Prof.  W.  F.  Osborne,  Princeton,  N.  J.;  Poag  Kennels, 
Toledo,  Ohio;  Peninsular  Kennels,  Chelsea,  Mich.;  E.  S. 
Pinney,  Farwell  House,  Chicago,  111.;  A.  F.  Putney,  155 
Franklin  street,  Boston,  Mass.;  H.  S.  Pitkin,  Hartford, 
Conn. ;  E.  A.  Rockwood,  Buffalo,  N.  Y. ;  E.  B.  Sears,  Mel- 
rose,  Mass.;  R.  J.  Sawyer,  Menominee,  Mich.;  St.  Gothard 
Kennels,  Orange,  N.  J.;  Mrs.  E.  E.  Teague,  South 
Farmington,  Mass.;  Dr.  Robert  Taylor,  Mount  Vernon, 
N.  Y.;  Trojan  Kennels,  88  Third  street,  Troy,  N.  Y.;  Otto 


THE   ST.  BERNARD. 


563 


W.  Volger,  Buffalo,  N.  Y. ;  John  G.  Venn,  617  West  Lake 
street,  Chicago,  111.;  John  Van  Velsor,  Buffalo,  N.  Y.; 
Charles  G.  Wheelock,  Arlington  Heights,  Mass.;  G-.  P. 
Wiggin,  Lawrence,  Mass.;  E.  H.  Willson,  Jordan,  N.  Y. ; 
Wentworth  Kennels,  Utica,  N.  Y.;  Woodbrook  Kennels, 
Box  602,  Baltimore,  Md. 

The  special  characteristics  of  the  St.  Bernard  are  his 
immense  size,  his  powerful  muscular  organization,  his  great 
frame,  deep  and  broad  chest,  his  massive  head  and  spacious 
brain-pan,  his  heavy  coat,  his 
courage,  his  unswerving  devotion 
to  his  human  or  canine  friends, 
his  kind,  benevolent  disposition, 
his  sagacity,  and  his  aversion  to 
or  disregard  of  the  attentions  of 
strangers.  Several  specimens  of 
this  breed  have  reached  a  height 
of  thirty -four  inches  or  more  at 
the  shoulder,  and  a  weight  of 
twa  hundred  pounds  or  over. 
Plinlimmon  is  thirty-five  inches 
high,  Sir  Bedivere  and  Watch 
are  each  more  than  thirty-four 
inches,  and  many  others  are 
over  thirty-three  inches.  Vol- 
umes could  be  filled  with  anecdotes  and  incidents  of  the 
remarkable  instinct,  the  superior  judgment,  the  almost 
human  intellect,  of  the  St.  Bernard.  The  heroic  services 
rendered  by  these  dogs  in  rescuing  and  aiding  snow-bound 
travelers  in  the  Swiss  Alps  are  too  well  known  to  require 
further  mention  here.  Hundreds  of  instances  occurring  in 
our  own  country  could  be  cited  had  we  the  space  for  them. 
As  showing  the  steadfast  devotion  of  the  St.  Bernard  for 
his  friends,  I  may  recall  the  case  of  a  boy  who  was  drowned 
in  a  lake  in  New  York  while  skating.  The  body  of  the 
grand  old  St.  Bernard  dog  who  had  been  the  constant  com- 
panion of  the  boy  was  found  at  the  bottom  of  the  lake,  near 
that  of  his  young  master,  and  the  indications  pointed 


OTHO. 
Owned  by  K.  E.  Hopf,  Arlington,  N.  J. 


564  THE  AMERICAN   BOOK    OF   THE   DOG. 

plainly  to  the  fact  that  the  boy  having  broken  through  the 
ice,  the  dog  had  gone  to  his  aid,  had  caught  him  and  tried 
to  pull  him  out;  that  the  ice  had  broken  and  the  dog  had 
fallen  in.  Then  he  had  released  his  hold,  climbed  out  on 
the  ice,  seized  his  master  and  tried  again  to  drag  him  out, 
but  again  the  ice  had  broken.  These  struggles  had  been 
repeated  again  and  again  until  the  noble  brute,  exhausted 
by  his  efforts,  had  sunk  and  died  by  the  side  of  his  young 
friend. 

Mr.  G-.  W.  Patterson,  writing  of  a  St.  Bernard  bitch 
that  he  had  formerly  owned,  says: 

My  little  girl  was  enjoying  a  slide  last  winter,  back  of  my  house,  and 
Sylvia  was  accompanying  her  down  the  hill  by  running  alongside.  When  she 
reached  the  bottom  of  the  hill,  the  little  girl  held  out  the  rope,  saying:  "  Here, 
Sylvia,  you  must  draw  me  back  up  the  hill ; "  and  although  the  dog  had  had 
no  training,  and  was  only  eight  months  old,  she  performed  the  task  admirably, 
if  not  as  quickly  as  she  did  afterward.  Carrie  never  took  a  slide  after  that 
without  having  Sylvia  with  her  to  draw  her  up  the  hill.  I  never  could  tell 
which  enjoyed  it  most — both  growing  strong  under  the  influence  of  bracing 
air  and  exercise. 

It  has  been  claimed  by  some  of  the  opponents  of  the  St. 
Bernard  that  he  is  dull  of  comprehension  and  difficult  to 
train.  My  experience  and  observation  teach  me  that  such 
is  by  no  means  the  case.  I  have  known  many  St.  Bernards 
thafc  have  been  trained  to  perform  some  truly  wonderful 
tricks,  errands,  and  services,  and  that  with  as  little  time 
and  labor  as  would  have  been  necessary  to  train  the  bright- 
est Spaniel  to  do  the  same  work.  Col.  C.  A.  Swineford,  of 
Baraboo,  Wis.,  had  a  St.  Bernard  that  would  at  his  bid- 
ding stand  on  his  hind  feet,  place  his  fore  feet  on  the  office 
railing,  and  walk  from  one  end  to  the  other  of  it  in  this 
position.  Then,  at  command,  he  would  place  his  hind 
feet  on  the  railing,  and  with  his  fore  feet  on  the  floor, 
repeat  the  operation. 

He  would  place  his  hind  feet  on  a  barrel,  and  standing 
with  his  fore  feet  on  the  floor,  roll  it  back  and  forth  across 
the  floor.  His  master  could  send  him  with  a  note  or  pack- 
age to  any  house  or  office  where  he  had  ever  been,  and  the 
dog  would  return  promptly  with  the  answer.  A  few  hours 


THE   ST.  BERNARD.  565 

had  been  sufficient  in  which  to  teach  the  dog  either  of  these 
tricks. 

The  St.  Bernard  is  one  of  the  most  useful  and  valuable 
of  all  breeds  as  a  watch-dog.  While  not  vicious  or  savage, 
he  is  alert,  courageous,  faithful,  sagacious,  and  his  great 
size  renders  him  an  object  of  dread  to  wrong-doers.  Pew 
men  would  care  to  disturb  property  of  which  he  had 
charge.  Besides  being  an  excellent  guardian  for  children, 
he  is  also  an  affectionate  and  patient  companion  for  them. 
He  may  not  romp  or  run  with  them,  but  will,  if  harnessed 
and  hitched  to  a  toy  wagon,  draw  them  as  faithfully  and 
patiently  as  an  old  horse.  He  will  allow  them  to  ride  him, 
wool  him,  or  impose  on  his  good  nature  in  almost  any  way 
they  may  choose,  and  never  resent  or  object.  Many  of  the 
noble  qualities  of  the  race  are  illustrated  in  the  case  of 
Save,  a  noted  St.  Bernard  formerly  owned  in  England,  of 
which  a  contributor  to  the  American  Field  recently  wrote 
as  follows: 

Mr.  J.  F.  Smith  mourns  the  loss  of  a  dear  friend  and  most  faithful  com- 
panion. This  was  Champion  Save  (E.,  10626),  one  of  the  most  notable  St. 
Bernards  ever  seen.  He  was  bred  by  Rev.  G.  A.  Sneyd,  being  by  Othman  (E., 
6422) — Hedwig.  He  was  born  in  March,  1879,  and  was  the  only  survivor  of  a 
litter  of  fifteen.  It  was  on  this  account  that  he  was  called  Save.  In  color 
and  markings  he  was  admittedly  the  handsomest  dog  ever  shown  here.  His 
strength  was  such  that  he  would  carry  his  master  with  ease,  although  he 
weighed  fourteen  stone,  and  no  two  men  cold  hold  him  with  a  chain  or  slip, 
if  anyone  whom  he  knew  called  him.  Yet  he  was  so  gentle  that  the  smallest 
child  could  do  anything  with  him.  He  was  very  fond  of  the  company  of 
ladies,  among  whom  he  was  known  as  Gentleman  Save.  He  was  also  passion- 
ately fond  of  children,  and  delighted  in  their  company.  For  some  years  a  cot 
has  been  maintained  in  the  Children's  Hospital,  at  Sheffield,  solely  by  money 
collected  by  Save,  who  always  carried  a  small  cask  attached  to  his  collar.  He 
used  to  go  to  the  hospital  twice  a  year,  in  January  and  July,  to  pay  in  his  con- 
tributions, and  his  visits  were  looked  for  eagerly  by  the  little  ones,  as  all  that 
were  well  enough  in  the  ward  which  contained  the  "  Save  cot  "  had  a  ride  on 
his  back. 

He  died  calmly  and  painlessly  on  July  3d,  and  this  grand  old  dog  is  sin- 
cerely mourned  by  his  late  owner  and  his  family,  as  well  as  by  all  the  children 
of  Sheffield  and  many  of  their  parents.  Probably  no  other  dog  had  so  wide 
a  popularity,  for  his  portrait,  first  published  in  1882,  afterward  figured  in  almost 
every  illustrated  journal;  and  the  story  of  his  life,  his  strength,  his  intelli- 
gence, his  docility,  and  his  love  for  children,  has  been  told  hundreds  of  times. 


566  THE   AMERICAN   BOOK   OF  THE  DOG. 

The  St.  Bernard  has  frequently  been  utilized  as  a 
retriever,  and  it  is  believed  by  many  that  with  proper 
training  he  would  excel  in  this  class  of  work.  A  writer  in 
the  Kennel  Gazette  gives  interesting  and  valuable  testi- 
mony on  this  point.  He  says: 

I  had  just  put  together  my  belongings  preparatory  to  starting  for  Scotland 
in  the  evening.  My  friend  with  whom  I  was  staying  had  kindly  promised 
that  during  my  absence  he  would  take  care  of  a  valuable  St.  Bernard  bitch 
(sister  to  Plinlimmon)  which  had  recently  been  given  to  me,  and,  as  though 
conscious  of  our  impending  parting,  Midge,  who  had  become  greatly  attached 
to  me,  lay  at  my  feet,  from  time  to  time  casting  upward  such  beseeching 
glances  as  only  our  affectionate  dumb  pets  are  capable  of.  As  the  afternoon 
wore  on,  and  during  the  early  evening,  the  dog  closely  followed  my  every  move- 
ment, almost  appearing  to  ask  that  she  might  accompany  me,  until  at  the  last 
moment  I  decided  to  take  her. 

The  first  outburst  of  cordial  greeting  which  welcomed  me  as  I  drove  up 
to  the  house  of  my  friend  was  somewhat  toned  down  upon  the  appearance  of 
my  pet.  I  saw  at  once  I  had  brought  a  visitor  by  no  means  popular  in  a  sport- 
ing establishment,  but  trusted  that  time  might  make  matters  smooth;  nor 
was  I  mistaken,  for  the  dog's  very  looks  soon  worked  wonders.  Days  went 
happily  by,  and  with  Midge  for  my  companion,  I  rambled  by  the  river,  rod  in 
hand,  she  upon  occasion  leaving  me  to  flog  some  pet  stream  while  she  took 
small  hunting  excursions  on  her  own  account.  J  noticed  on  several  occasions 
that  she  became  wondrous  keen  at  the  sound  of  a  gun,  and  found  one  had  only 
to  raise  a  gun  to  one's  shoulder  to  put  her  at  once  upon  the  alert. 

One  day  I  had  gone  up  to  a  loch  for  a  day's  trouting,  and  while  I  was 
thus  occupied  two  friends  went  to  the  upper  end  of  it  in  quest  of  ducks.  It 
was  with  some  difficulty  that  I  prevented  Midge  from  following  them,  and 
later  on  her  uneasiness  at  the  sound  of  each  shot  and  her  efforts  to  jump  over 
the  side  of  the  boat  gave  rise  to  such  anathemas  as  might  well  have  sunk  a 
less  sturdy  craft.  After  some  time  we  were  nearing  the  spot  where  the  shooters 
were,  and  when  we  got  to  within  some  three  or  four  hundred  yards  of  them  a 
duck  was  duly  brought  down,  at  sight  of  which  Midge  broke  away  from  me, 
swam  to  the  bird,  a  considerable  distance,  retrieved  it  in  perfect  form, 
without  disturbing  a  feather. 

Later  in  the  day  other  chances  presented  themselves,  the  results  being 
always  satisfactory,  and  especially  so  in  one  or  two  instances  where  a  less 
powerful  dog  would  have  been  utterly  unequal  to  making  his  way  through 
the  thick  reeds  and  sedge.  Now,  to  me  it  seems  that  with  very  little  training 
these  really  well-bred  St.  Bernards  might  be  most  useful  in  the  field  in  such 
situations  as  I  have  mentioned,  and  over  heavy,  marshy  ground,  and  I  send  the 
above  account,  not  desiring  to  claim  more  for  them  than  they  deserve,  but  to 
meet  the  assertions  many  people  make  that  these  large  dogs  are  treacherous 
and  useless  pets  to  have  about  a  place.  I  may,  in  conclusion,  say  that  to  her 
other  accomplishments  Midge  adds  that  of  poacher-hunting,  having  on  one 


THE   ST.  BERN  A  ED.  567 

occasion  knocked  down  and  held  a  man  until  the  keeper  with  whom  she  had 
gone  out  on  the  quest  came  up;  and  the  prisoner  was  only  too  glad  to  sur- 
render his  arms  and  accouterments  on  condition  of  the  dog  being  called  off, 
though  she  had  not  bitten  him,  but  had  merely  held  him  down  by  the  moral 
persuasion  of  a  pair  of  heavy  paws  and  an  ominous  growl  when  he  attempted 
to  move. 

PRINCIPLES   OF  BREEDING. 

A  would-be  successful  breeder  frequently  inquires, 
' '  What  shall  I  do  to  obtain  the  best  possible  results  from 
my  stock?" 

There  are  in  reality  so  many  things  to  be  taken  into  con- 
sideration, that  a  short  and  concise  answer  would  be  hard 
to  give. 

1.  Both  the  parents  furnish  their  portion  toward  the 
production  of  the  offspring;  but  since  the  bitch  nourishes 
it  until  birth  and  for  a  month  or  more  after,  it  is  natural  to 
draw  the  conclusion  that  the  young  will  more  closely  resem- 
ble the  dam  than  the  sire.     In  a  majority  of  cases,  per- 
haps, they  will  resemble  the  sire  in  size  and  coat,  while 
their    disposition  and    nervous   temperament    will  follow 
closely  that  of  the  dam. 

2.  As   "like  produces  like,"  in  dogs  as  in  other  ani- 
mals, the  dispositions  of  both  parents  should  be  as  near  to 
what  is  desired  as  possible,  or  bad  results  will    ensue. 
Hence  it  can  not  be  expected  to  produce  a  good  litter  of 
puppies  by  jthe  union  of  a  poor  bitch  to  a  celebrated  prize- 
winning  stud  dog,  or  by  breeding  a  fine  bitch  to  a  second- 
rate  dog. 

3.  As  every  dog  is  a  compound  animal — that  is,  com- 
posed by  a  sire  and  dam,  also  by  their  sires  and  dams,  etc. 
—there  is  no  certainty  as  to  what  one  may  expect  in  a  lit- 
ter, unless  he  is  fully  acquainted  with  the  dogs  which  make 
up  the  pedigree  of  his  puppies  for  several  generations  back. 

4.  As  it  is  a  well-established  fact  that  the  first  service 
has  its  effects  upon  several  subsequent  litters,  the  breeder 
can  not  exercise  too  much  care  upon  a  suitable  union  for 
his  bitches.    We  have  known  instances  where  a  bitch,  being 
bred  to  a  dog  with  a  "butterfiy"  nose  (part  white),  pro- 


568 


THE  AMERICAN   BOOK   OF   THE   DOG. 


duced  in  that  litter  three  out  of  seven  puppies  with  the 
same  fault,  while  in  her  three  succeeding  litters  there  was 
always  at  least  one  having  this  affliction,  notwithstand- 
ing these  subsequent  litters  were  each  from  different  sires. 
5.  Inbreeding,  as  a  rule,  is  to  be  discouraged;  yet,  to 
produce  certain  results,  it  may  be  practiced  to  a  limited 
extent.  Probably  the  best  example  of  successful  inbreed- 
ing may  be  found  in  the  case  of  the  rough-coated  bitch 


ST.  BERNARD   PUPPIES. 
Bred  by  Mr.  R.  J.   Sawyer,  Menominee,  Mich. 

Princess  Florence.  But  continual  inbreeding  always  pro- 
duces smaller  offspring,  so  that  by  this  means  it  is  possible 
to  breed  St.  Bernards  (so  called)  about  the  size  of  a  Toy 
Terrier. 

It  is  extremely  necessary  that  both  parents  should  be  in 
perfect  health  at  the  time  of  breeding,  the  bitch  especially, 
so  she  may  be  enabled  to  sustain  the  growth  of  the  pup- 
pies before  birth  and  provide  ample  milk  for  them  after- 
ward. 

The  best  age  at  which  to  breed  St.  Bernards  is,  in  bitches, 
from  fifteen  to  eighteen  months;  but  no  dog  should  be 


THE   ST.  BERNARD.  569 

allowed  to  serve  a  bitch  until  he  has  reached  the  age  of 
two  years,  by  which  time  he  will  have  fully  matured.  The 
best  season  of  the  year  for  breeding  is  in  the  spring  and 
summer,  as  the  young  produced  at  this  season  get  more 
outdoor  exercise,  which  tends  so  much  to  strengthen  the 
muscles  and  development  generally.  Winter  puppies  fre- 
quently become  chilled,  and  hence  their  growth  is  slow, 
they  seldom  reaching  the  stature  of  their  more  fortunate 
brothers.  Another  argument  for  spring  and  summer  pup- 
pies is  that  these  can  compete  at  the  following  winter  shows 
in  the  puppy  classes,  for  by  that  time  they  are  sufficiently 
matured  to  stand  the  excitement  incident  to  such  scenes. 

The  bitch  shows  pretty  plainly  when  she  is  about  to 
come  in  heat,  as  she  becomes  restless,  feverish,  and  exceed- 
ingly affectionate  in  her  disposition.  She  usually  has  a 
bloody  discharge  from  the  vulva  for  nine  days,  and  from 
three  to  five  days  after  the  cessation  of  this  discharge 
is  considered  the  best  time  to  take  her  to  the  dog, 
although  some  bitches  will  refuse  to  have  any  connection 
whatever  with  a  dog  later  than  the  third  day;  so,  to  be  on 
the  safe  side,  it  is  well  to  lose  no  time.  Bitches,  as  a  rule, 
come  in  season  twice  a  year,  at  pretty  regular  intervals,  but 
we  have  known  of  some  that  produced  three  litters  in  two 
years;  this,  kowever,  is  unusual. 

When  a  bitch  misses,  her  next  season  is  very  apt  to  be 
one  month  earlier  than  if  she  had  produced  her  litter  and 
weaned  them.  As  soon  as  she  is  bred  she  should  be  put  in  a 
secure  place,  as  she  will  exercise  great  cunning  in  her 
efforts  to  escape  and  have  intercourse  with  any  animal  she 
should  chance  to  meet. 

During  the  earlier  period  of  her  pregnancy,  especially,  she 
should  be  in  sight,  if  possible,  of  a  typical  dog,  as  the  ante- 
natal impressions  are  often  very  pronounced.  She  should 
also  be  kept  apart  from  others  not  in  a  similar  condition; 
and  while  she  should  get  ample  exercise,  it  must  never  be 
violent  in  any  sense.  Never  allow  her  to  jump  or  run  to 
any  extent,  or  to  become  alarmed.  Toward  the  latter  part 
of  her  time,  when  it  has  been  clearly  ascertained  that  she 


570  THE  AMERICAN    BOOK   OF  THE  DOG. 

is  in  whelp,  her  food  should  be  of  a  soft  nature,  with  con- 
siderable milk  given  daily.  A  little  raw  meat,  chopped 
fine,  fed  three  or  four  times  in  the  last  week,  often  prevents 
bitches  from  eating  puppies,  though  they  may  formerly  have 
been  in  the  habit  of  so  doing. 

A  piece  of  old  carpet,  placed  on  her  regular  bench,  is 
about  the  best  bed  for  a  bitch  when  whelping.  This  can  be 
thrown  away  after  the  whelping  is  over  and  replaced  with 
a  fresh  piece,  or  with  a  bed  of  clean  straw.  A  bitch  that 
has  been  kept  in  good  condition,  neither  too  fat  nor,  on  the 
other  hand,  too  thin,  seldom  has  any  difficulty  in  parturi- 
tion. Great  care  should  be  exercised  that  no  cold  or  any 
draught  is  permitted  to  penetrate  into  the  kennel  at  this 
time,  as  newly  born  puppies  are  easily  chilled  and  thus 
destroyed.  The  temperature  should  never  be  allowed  to 
fall  below  60°  Fahrenheit  in  the  whelping-room. 

Very  young  puppies  should  be  given  milk  two  or  three 
times  daily  until  they  are  old  enough  to  pick  at  the  bones 
and  food  that  is  given  to  their  dam;  then,  after  they  are 
weaned,  great  care  should  be  exercised  in  their  diet  to 
guard  against  worms. 


THE  MASTIFF. 


BY  WILLIAM  WADE. 


writing  of  Mastiffs,  certainly  one  of  the  very  oldest 
breeds  of  dogs  now  existing,  there  is  a  strong  tempta- 
tion  to  go  into  an  inquiry  as  to  the  origin  of  so  ancient 
a  breed;  to  inquire  as  to  where  it  sprung  from,  how  it  was 
developed,  etc.  This,  however,  I  can  not  bring  myself  to  do. 
All  theories  as  to  the  matter  would  be  but  theories — every- 
thing about  the  question  would  be  misty  and  shadowy;  and 
where  it  is  perfectly  evident  that  no  valid  proof  can  be 
produced  for  any  of  the  many  theories  as  to  the  origin  or 
relationship,  of  the  breed,  it  seems  to  me  most  unprofitable 
to  waste  our  time  in  hazardous  speculations  which  can  profit 
nobody.  Should  there  be  any  readers  of  THE  AMERICAN 
BOOK  OF  THE  DOG  who  delight  in  such  abstruse  and  anti- 
quarian pursuits,  I  would  commend  to  them  the  admirable 
monograph  of  the  Mastiff  prepared  by  Mr.  M.  B.  Wynn, 
the  noted  English  authority  on  the  breed,  in  which  work 
he  has  displayed  a  remarkable  degree  of  patience,  and 
has  devoted  an  amount  of  research  to  this  branch  of  the 
subject  demonstrating,  most  clearly,  that  with  him  it  was 
a  labor  of  lov-e.* 

*  A  few  of  Mr.  Wynn's  most  pointed  observations  on  this  subject  may 
properly  be  quoted  here.  On  pages  17  and  18  he  says: 

"  That  a  true  Asiatic  Mastiff  has  existed  from  very  remote  ages  is  proved 
by  their  figures  represented  on  Assyrian  sculptures  some  650  years  B.  C.  These 
show  the  broad,  short,  truncated  muzzle  of  the  true  Mastiff,  the  lips  being 
deeply  pendulous,  and  the  loose  skin,  down  the  sides  of  the  face,  falling  in 
heavy  folds;  the  ears  being  wholly  pendent  and  the  dewlap  very  pronounced 
(which  seems  characteristic  of  the  Asiatic  Mastiff  in  its  purity),  the  body 
cylindrical  and  heavy,  the  limbs  extremely  massive,  the  stem  mostly  carried 
upward  over  the  back  in  a  hoop-like  curve. 

"These  dogs  appear  to  have  been  of  vast  size,  equaling  in  proportion  the 
largest  of  our  modern  dogs,  and  their  height  may  be  estimated  to  have 

(571) 


572  THE  AMERICAN   BOOK   OF   THE   DOG. 

For  my  part,  I  do  not  believe  that  the  Mastiff  as  we 
have  him  to-day  existed  in  anything  but  a  very  rough  and 
crude  form  a  few  hundred  years  since.  England  evidently 
had,  in  a  very  early  day,  a  dog  used  for  somewhat  the  same 
purposes  as  the  Mastiff  is  now  used.  This  was  "the 
broad-mouthed  dog  of  Britain,"  but  whether  it  was  the 
Mastiff  or  the  Bulldog  is,  to  my  mind,  pure  conjecture. 
Whether  the  Mastiff  is  an  offshoot  of  the  Bulldog,  bred  in 
a  different  direction  for  size,  etc.,  or  vice  versa,  or  whether 
both  sprung  from  the  same  root  and  have  been  differently 
developed,  is  merely  guess-work,  and  I  never  had  the  pa- 
tience to  thoroughly  read  such  tiresome  gropings  in  the 

been  from  thirty  to  thirty-four  inches  at  shoulder,  and  at  times  even  thirty-six 
inches,  perhaps." 

Mr.  Wynn  traces  the  history  of  these  dogs  into  Greece,  Alexander  the 
Great  having  introduced  them  there  in  326  B.  C.,  and  notes  Marco  Polo's  men- 
tion (A.  D.  1295)  of  Mastiffs  in  Central  Asia  as  large  as  asses.  On  page  23  the 
same  author  writes:  "The  earliest  and  most  incontestible  proofs  we  possess 
of  the  origin  of  the  various  races  of  dogs  are  the  delineations  of  the  animals 
that  existed  in  the  days  of  early  Assyrian,  Egyptian,  and  Grecian  sculpture, 
and  among  these  we  may  trace  dogs  of  the  Mastiff,  as  well  as  the  Grey- 
hound and  other  types,  existing  before  the  Christian  era.  The  characteristics 
are  the  same  to-day  as  they  were  when  the  noble  Mastiff  delighted  the  eyes  of 
the  Assyrian  kings." 

Reverting  to  page  16  of  the  same  work,  we  read:  "  The  theory  or  opinion 
I  hold  is  that  the  English  Mastiff,  from  the  earliest  times,  has  existed  in 
Britain  in  its  purity,  resembling  in  many  respects  a  vast  Bulldog,  being  the 
ancestor  of  that  breed— such  being  the  true  pugnaces,  peculiar  to  Britain  and 
Gaul,  mentioned  by  the  historians;  and  by  crossing  these  with  larger  breeds, 
particularly  the  Asiatic  Mastiff  (introduced  probably  by  the,  Phrenicians)  and 
other  large  races  of  the  pugnaces,  as  the  white  Alan,  or  war  dogs  of  the 
Alani,  a  larger  variety  of  the  Mastiff  was  formed." 

Again,  on  page  35:  "  From  the  preceding  it  will  be  seen  that  dogs  of  a 
true  Mastiff  type  have  existed  from  the  earliest  times,  and  it  has  been  con- 
jectured that  the  Phoenicians  introduced  the  Assyrian  or  Asiatic  Mastiff  into 
Britain."  Further  on,  the  same  writer  states  that  Pho3nician  traders  probably 
bartered  specimens  of  the  Asiatic  Mastiff  to  the  Britons  in  exchange  for  tin, 
which  was  in  early  ages  an  important  article  of  commerce  between  the  two 
countries. 

"  Idstone  "  claims  that  the  Mastiff  existed  in  France  at  an  early  period;  that 
it  was  known  to  the  Greeks  as  Molossus,  from  Molossis,  a  part  of  Epirus, 
and  that  it  was  subsequently  distributed  from  Middle  Asia  throughout  Europe. 
—ED. 


THE   MASTIFF. 


573 


dark,  except  when  I  read  Wynn  as  a  matter  of  a  duty.  I 
fancy  that  the  earliest  picture  of  a  Mastiff,  by  a  well-known 
and  prominent  artist,  is  that  shown  in  Vandyke's  picture 
of  the  children  of  King  Charles  I.  As  the  child  standing 
beside  the  dog  appears  to  have  been  about  twelve  years  old  at 
the  time,  it  may  reasonably  be  assumed  that  the  picture  was 
painted  about  1632;  and  the  dog  shown  in  that  picture  would 


CHAMPION    BEAUFORT. 
Owned  by  J.  L.  Wmchell,    Fairhaven,  Vt. 

not  be  disgraced  now  in  a  class  of  show  specimens.  Mr.  Wynn 
characterizes  this  dog  as  of  Boarhound  type,  with  which 
statement  I  can  not  agree.  The  width  of  skull,  the  raised 
ridges  over  the  eyebrows,  the  comparatively  short  muzzle, 
and  the  gentle,  loving  expression,  are  most  diverse  from 
the  long  muzzle,  narrow  skull,  and  truculent  expression 
common  in  the  Boarhound.  No  one  can  study  the  affec- 
tionate expression  of  the  upturned  eye  of  the  noble  dog 
shown  in  this  picture  without  experiencing  a  feeling  of 
admiration  for  the  grand  character  of  the  dog.  It  indicates 


574  THE   AMERICAN   BOOK    OF   THE   DOG. 

in  unmistakable  terms  that  serious  trouble  would  instantly 
befall  anyone  who  might  attempt  to  harm  his  young 
proteges. 

Next  in  order  of  date  to  this  picture  (within  my  obser- 
vation) comes  the  picture  in  Bingley's  "Memoirs  of  Brit- 
ish Quadrupeds,"  published  in  1809,  wherein  a  dog  of 
admirable  Mastiff  type,  in  body  and  legs,  is  shown;  but  this 
specimen  appears  too  much  tucked  in  at  the  flanks,  and 
with  the  most  peculiar  of  heads,  the  muzzle  being  far 
shorter,  in  proportion  t©  the  general  size  of  the  dog,  than  in 
the  most  snub-nosed  pet  of  the  fancy  of  to-day  (or  rather 
of  a  few  years  since),  while  the  skull  is  preposterously  long 
in  just  the  same  ratio  that  the  muzzle  is  short.  It  may  be 
said  that  Hewitt,  the  artist  who  illustrated  Bingley,  had 
drawn  on  his  fancy,  and  that  the  picture  was  no  likeness; 
but  such  a  position  is  untenable,  by  reason  of  the  striking 
fidelity  to  life  of  the  pictures  of  British  wild  animals 
shown  in  the  same  book,  and  drawn  by  the  same  artist.  It- 
may  therefore  reasonably  be  assumed  that  his  picture  of 
the  Mastiff  was  true  to  the  subject.  Thus  it  appears  that 
the  second  type  of  Mastiff  was  a  long-skulled,  short- 
muzzled  one.  Coming  on  down  through  the  Mastiff  ages, 
we  reach  the  pictures  of  Lukey's  Bruce  I.  and  II.,  Lukey's 
Lion,  Lord  Waldegrave's  Couchez,  and  other  fountains  of 
our  present  Mastiff  blood,  and  we  find  dogs  of  what  wrould 
now  be  called  a  long-faced  type — Couchez  showing  in  his 
portrait  a  most  savage  temper,  while  Lion  appears  singu- 
larly gentle  and  noble  in  his  expression.  Possibly  I  am 
in  error  in  noting  these  last  two  dogs  among  English 
Mastiffs,  as  both  came  from  Mount  St.  Bernard;  but, 
for  all  that,  they  were  of  high  English  Mastiff  type, 
strengthening  the  claim  of  Mr.  Wynn,  Colonel  Gamier, 
and  others,  that  the  English  and  Alpine  Mastiff  only 
differed  in  point  of  size,  the  latter  being  the  larger. 
The  next  type  illustrated  is  the  one  that  would  now  be 
called  "houndy,"  a  "lurcher,"  etc.,  as  evidenced  by  the 
famous  Old  Champion  Turk,  Miss  Kale's  Lion,  Colonel, 
and  Salisbury.  These  dogs  had  long  muzzles,  deep  and  blunt, 


THE   MASTIFF.  575 

showed  general  symmetry  and  vigor,  and  were  succeeded 
by  the  "  Crown  Prince  dispensation"  of  puggy,  undershot 
muzzles,  straight  hocks,  flabby  obesity,  and  lack  of  vigor. 
I  do  not  mean  to  say  that  at  any  of  these  periods  either 
type  was  universal;  but  it  is  certain  that  during  the  later 
years  the  rage  was  for  certain  peculiarities,  and  dogs  riot 
conforming  to  the  dictates  of  the  fashion  were,  in  the 
vernacular  of  dog  shows,  "no  Mastiffs."  Vandyke's  and 
Bingley's  pictures  only  teach  us  that  there  were  such  dogs, 
but  we  do  not  know  whether  the  majority  of  the  breed 
then  existing  was  of  similar  type;  in  fact,  it  is  reasonable 
to  assume  that  there  was  no  such  thing  as  "type"  a  hun- 
dred years  ago.  In  those  days,  breeders  bred  only  for 
specific  use,  and  the  appearance  of  the  animal  was  a 
matter  of  little  importance. 

The  early  history  of  the  Mastiff  in  America  is  a  broken 
chapter,  enveloped  in  a  good  deal  of  doubt.  Of  course 
Mastiffs  were  imported  into  the  Colonies  in  early  days, 
just  as  any  other  breed  might  have  been,  but  their 
blood  soon  became  mingled  with  that  of  the  average  dog 
of  the  land,  and  for  years  no  pure  strains  were  bred.  New 
Englanders  imported  many,  but,  unfortunately,  they  were 
not  careful  as  to  the  pedigrees  they  got  with  the  animals, 
and  the  result  is  that  "New  England  pedigrees"  are  an 
amusing  study  for  their  complications,  and  one  is  often 
puzzled  to  know  whether  the  pedigree  is  a  blundering 
fraud  or  an  honest  mistake.  Messrs.  Milliken,  Kelly,  Bow- 
ditch,  and  others  imported  dogs  as  early  as  the  eighteenth 
century,  some  of  which  must  have  been  of  considerable 
merit;  but  as  far  as  the  value  of  their  pedigrees  is  con- 
cerned, they  are  equal  to  uBy  dog  ex  bitch."  A  Mr. 
Lloyd  Phoenix,  of  New  York  City,  at  an  early  day,  im- 
ported a  litter  brother  of  the  famous  Champion  King,  and 
a  black  bitch,  from  the  noted  dealer  Bill  George,  and  there 
can  be  no  doubt  as  to  the  honesty  of  this  transaction, 
George  being  above  suspicion;  but,  unfortunately,  he  pre- 
served no  records  of  what  became  of  the  dogs,  or  what 
offspring  they  left.  Colonel  Gamier  brought  a  pair  with 


576  THE   AMERICAN   BOOK   OF  THE  DOG. 

him  from  England  to  Canada  about  1837,  which  he  left  there 
on  his  return,  taking  only  a  son,  Lion,  who  was  afterward 
the  sire  of  the  noted  Lukey's  Governor,  and  considerable 
of  this  stock  was  scattered  over  this  country,  some  going 
as  far  west  as  St.  Louis,  Mo. ;  but  no  traces  can  be  found 
of  them  further  than  this.  The  earliest  importations  of 
stock  of  known  breeding  and  high  pedigree,  of  which  any 
records  have  been  kept,  were  those  of  Mr.  Underwood  and 
Mr.  E.  Delafield  Smith,  of  Newark,  N.  J.,  who  bought 
some  dogs  from  Mr.  Frank  Heinzman,  of  Bradford,  Eng- 
land. The  pedigrees  of  these  dogs  are  thoroughly  estab- 
lished and  given  in  full,  and  their  breeding  was  of  the 
highest  order.  A  curious  mistake,  however,  occurred 
therein,  in  printing  "Ornaker"  for  ''Quaker."  Any  pedi- 
grees running  (as  many  do)  to  Delafield  Smith's  strain 
may  be  accepted  as  genuine  and  valuable.  Mr.  R.  L. 
Belknap  and  Gen.  S.  L.  M.  Barlow,  of  New  York,  also 
imported  several  Mastiffs  some  fifteen  or  twenty  years 
since;  but  the  pedigrees  of  such  of  Mr.  Belknap' s  as  I 
have  seen  are  unsatisfactory,  while  those  of  General 
Barlow's  Ruth  and  others  are  clear  and  correct. 

Mr.  W.  H.  Lee,  of  Boston,  made  an  important  record  as 
a  Mastiff  breeder  about  1883,  owning  Turk,  a  fine  dog  of 
the  older  type,  and  having  imported  Ilford  Cromwell. 
Dr.  J.  W.  Alsop,  of  Middletown,  Conn.,  also  did  good  serv- 
ice about  the  same  time,  importing  Boadicea,  by  Rajah; 
and  the  Pelham  Manor  Kennels,  by  importing  Cato  and 
Queen  II.  Mr.  Charles  H.  Morgan,  of  Worcester,  Mass., 
imported  Duchess  of  Connaught,  and  Mr.  Herbert  Mead, 
of  LakeWaccabuc,  N.  Y.,  imported  Princess  Royal,  Aydah, 
and  Fairy. 

The  most  decided  impetus  to  Mastiff  interests  of  late 
years  was  given  by  the  starting  of  the  Ashmont  Kennels, 
of  Boston,  Mass.,  by  Dr.  J.  Frank  Perry,  with  such  dogs 
as  Hero  II.,  Ilford  Cromwell,  Lorna  Doone,  Bal-Gal,  etc., 
which  may  be  said  to  have  started  the  movement  that  led 
to  the  importation  of  such  dogs  as  Ilford  Caution,  Minting, 
Alonzo,  Ilford  Chancellor,  Lady  Coleus,  Lady  Phyllis, 


THE   MASTIFF.  577 

Countess  of  Dunsmore,  Ilford  Comedy,  Phaedra,  Cambrian 
Princess,  Beaufort,  Gerda,  Moses,  Rosalind,  Prussian  Prin- 
cess, Lady  Gladys,  etc. 

The  leading  breeder  in  the  country  to-day  is  Mr.  E.  H. 
Moore,  of  Melrose,  Mass.,  with  Ilford  Chancellor  as  stud 
dog,  and  his  galaxy  of  brood  bitches  includes  Cambrian 
Princess,  Lady  Coleus,  Lady  Phyllis,  Lady  Margery,  etc. ;  a 
collection  not  excelled  either  in  England  or  in  this  country. 

Next  in  order  comes  Mr.  J.  L.  Winchell,  of  Fair- 
haven,  Vt.,  with  Beaufort,  Gerda,  Ben,  etc.;  followed  by 
Mr.  R.  P.  H.  Durkee,  of  Chicago,  with  Melrose  Prince;  Mr. 
C.  C.  Cook,  Canton,  Ohio,  with  Moses  (not  the  imported 
dog  of  that  name  previously  mentioned),  Menglada,  etc.; 
Dr.  George B.  Ayres,  of  Omaha,  Neb.,  with  Edwy,  Duke  of 
Connaught,  Ilford  Comedy;  Mr.  Charles  E.  Prinn,  of  Peoria, 
111.,  with  Ormonde,  Phaedra,  and  Lady  Colrey;  Mr.  Clinton 
N.  Powell,  Omaha,  with  Edne,  Donna,  etc. 

Among  other  noted  breeders,  owners,  or  importers,  may 
be  mentioned  Messrs.  E.  B.  Sears,  Melrose,  Mass. ;  Caumsett 
Kennels,  9  West  Thirty-fifth  street,  New  York  City;  Miss  D. 
E  Halk,  453  East  One  Hundred  and  Sixteenth  street,  New 
York  City;  W.  E.  Rothemel,  Union  Stock  Yards,  Chicago, 
111. ;  F.  A.  Ehret,  Ninety-second  street,  between  Second  and 
Third  avenues,  New  York  City;  J.  B.  Hefter,  419  East  One 
Hundred  and  Sixth  street,  New  York  City;  W.  A.  Power, 
266  Washington  street,  Boston,  Mass.;  C.  A.  Altmantferger, 
Minden,  Iowa;  Huston  Wyeth,  St.  Joseph,  Mo. ;  A.  J.  Maerz, 
Buffalo,  N.  Y.;  R.  R.  Oesterrich,  Detroit,  Mich.;  Hugh 
Falconer,  Shelburne,  Ontario. 

This  list  of  leading  breeders  and  owners  is  compiled 
from  memory,  and  if  I  have  omitted  any,  it  must  be 
laid  to  f orgetf ulness,  not  to  intent. 

Certainly  the  Mastiff  has  come  to  stay.  Other  breeds  of 
large  dogs  may  temporarily  overshadow  him,  in  point  of 
numbers  or  popular  fancy,  but  the  Mastiff  has  too  firm  a 
position  in  the  canine  interests  of  the  country — he  rep- 
resents too  much  of  the  wealth  of  the  canine  world,  and 
is  too  highly  appreciated  by  dog-fanciers  of  all  classes— to 
ever  be  neglected,  either  at  home  or  on  the  show  bench. 

37 


578  THE   AMERICAN   BOOK    OF   THE   DOG. 

In  one  respect,  the  grand  characteristics  of  the  Mastiff 
have  undergone  little  change — I  might  almost  say  none — as 
compared  with  the  vast  changes  that  have  occurred  in 
physical  conformation.  One  of  the  very  earliest  English 
writers  on  dogs  —  Doctor  Cains,  I  think  —  mentions  "the 
Mastie  that  keepyth  the  house."  Bingley  gives  the 
Mastiff  a  reputation  for  wise  discrimination,  careful 
watchfulness,  vigilance,  and  fondness  for  affording  pro- 
tection, that  seems  an  inherent  characteristic  of  the  race 
from  its  origin  to  the  present  day.  I  have  known  pets  of 
the  show  ring,  dogs  of  the  bluest  of  blue  blood,  such  as 
Lord  Raglan  (brother  to  the  famous  Champion  Orlando), 
Boadicea  (by  Rajah),  Persephone  (by  Debonair  ex  a  Crown 
Prince  bitch),  the  long-faced,  snipy  Gipsey,  and  others  of 
her  ilk,  to  display  the  same  general  measure  of  wisdom  as 
watch-dogs;  and  it  is  as  the  watch-dog  par  excellence  that 
the  Mastiff  is  admired.  Undoubtedly  dogs  of  other  breeds, 
and  even  mongrels,  often  (but  not  generally)  display  the 
same  traits  that  so  glorify  the  Mastiff.  For  instance,  I 
know  that  the  Champion  St.  Bernard  Barry  was  eminent 
in  this  respect;  but  I  also  know  that  in  this  respect  Mas- 
tiffs average  very  much  higher  than  any  other  breed.  I 
have  owned  and  known,  intimately,  with  abundant  oppor- 
tunity to  study  them,  fully  a  hundred  Mastiffs,  and  in 
that  number  there  was  but  one  real  savage  dog;  but  one 
that  would  attack  except  as  a  last  resort.  Let  me  illus 
trate — and  in  so  doing  I  must  perforce  repeat  stories  I 
have  told  before.  An  old  woman  came  to  my  house  to 
stay  for  a  fortnight.  Being  fond  of  dogs,  she  soon  gained 
Gipsey' s  confidence,  and  Gipsey  seemed  as  fond  of  her  as 
of  any  member  of  my  family.  A  week  or  so  after  the  old 
woman  left  my  house,  she  came  back  to  get  some  vege- 
tables, and  the  cook,  knowing  Gipsey' s  friendliness  toward 
the  old  woman,  gave  the  latter  a  basket,  and  directed  her 
to  the  garden,  where  she  began  to  pick  tomatoes.  Gipsey, 
espying  this,  put  a  stop  to  it  by  pushing  the  woman  away; 
but  finding  these  intimations  insufficient,  she  bristled  up 
and  growled  at  her.  The  old  woman,  in  great  distress, 


THE   MASTIFF. 


579 


came  to  the  cook  and  reported  Gipsey'  s  conduct,  which  the 
cook  disposed  of  by  going  out  to  the  garden,  picking  some 
tomatoes,  and  putting  them  in  the  old  woman's  basket, 
when  Gipsey  seemed  to  consider  herself  discharged  from 
further  obligation  in  the  case.  When,  however,  the 
woman  went  to  another  part  of  the  garden  and  undertook 
to  pick  beans,  Gipsey  vetoed  that,  and  fresh  authority  had 


ENGLISH    MASTIFF— EDWY   (^7450). 
Owned   by  Alvin  L.  Weston,   Denver,  Colo.      Bred  by  William  Wade,   Hulton,  Penn. 

to  come  from  the  cook.     Permission  to  pick  tomatoes  did 
not  by  any  means  involve  the  same  as  to  beans. 

Hector,  going  along  the  road,  saw  a  woman  beating  a 
little  child  with  great  brutality;  although  all  were  stran- 
gers to  him,  he  jumped  the  fence,  and  with  bristled  back 
and  drawn  lips  inquired,  in  doggy  speech,  ' '  What  are  you 
doing  that  for?"  The  woman  screeched  like  an  owl,  and 
flew  into  the  house,  when  Hector  jumped  the  fence  and 
went  off  about  his  business.  Eriant  got  into  the  room 
where  a  dance  was  going  on,  and  incontinently  broke  up 


580  THE   AMERICAN   BOOK   OF   THE   DOG. 

the  business.  It  looked  to  him  altogether  too  much  likt 
fighting  to  comport  with  his  ideas  of  peace. 

Doctor  Campbell,  the  noted  blind  American,  now  resi- 
dent in  England,  was  going  over  his  grounds  with  his 
Champion  Lily  II.,  when  she  interfered  with  his  progress 
in  one  direction,  and  when  he  did  not  comprehend  her,  and 
persisted  in  going  on,  caught  him  by  the  leg,  and  not  a  step 
would  she  let  him  move.  Then  he  called  on  a  member  of 
his  family  for  explanations,  and  it  transpired  that  he  was 
on  the  point  of  walking  into  a  deep  ditch  lately  dug  on  his 
grounds,  with  which  he  was  unacquainted. 

The  famous  Old  Champion  Turk  was  a  dog  of  the  very 
highest  courage,  fearing  nothing  that  lived,  yet  when  a  cat 
boldly  kittened  in  his  kennel,  Turk  guarded  the  little 
strangers  with  the  utmost  vigilance. 

Gipsey,  Lion,  Ginger,  Lee's  Turk,  Boadicea,  and  Winifred 
all  had  the  strong  disposition  to  accompany  members  of  the 
families  when  they  went  away  from  home,  particularly  if 
the  person  was  a  woman  or  a  child.  It  was  some  trouble 
to  coax  Lion  to  go  off  the  place  with  a  man,  and  almost 
impossible  to  do  so  in  daylight;  but  if  a  woman  went  away 
at  night,  he  would  use  every  endeavor  to  go  with  her,  and  if 
he  couldn't  go,  would  fume  and  fret  in  the  most  vexed 
style.  Gipsey  would  never  let  my  four-year-old  boy  go  off 
the  place  alone  without  getting  up  and  going  with  him.  Any 
of  the  dogs  I  have  mentioned,  when  in  charge  of  any  person 
on  a  walk  at  night,  might  stray  a  considerable  distance  away 
from  their  charge;  but  let  them  hear  a  strange  footstep,  andj, 
they  would  immediately  draw  near  the  person  they  were 
escorting,  and  remain  near  until  the  strange  footstep  was 
lost  in  the  distance.  These  are  but  specimen  bricks  from 
many  kilnfuls  that  I  could  deliver;  and  it  will  be  noted 
that  in  no  case  did  the  Mastiff  resort  to  violence,  gentle 
means  in  each  case  proving  sufficient. 

But  will  a  Mastiff  attack,  rend,  and  tear  if  occasion 
demands?  Listen:  Lion  was  accustomed  to  working-men 
coming  around  my  place  in  their  working-clothes,  and 
beyond  keeping  a  careful  watch  over  them,  and  occasion- 


THE   MASTIFF.  581 

ally  remonstrating  against  what  he  deemed  improper  con- 
duct, never  molested  anybody;  but  one  morning  a  typical 
tramp  came  to  the  back  door—  one  of  your  regular  dyed- 
in-the-wool,  dirty,  ragged,  frowsy,  red-faced  tramps,  stink- 
ing of  whisky.  Just  as  the  cook  opened  the  door,  Lion 
came  around  the  side  of  the  house,  and  with  one  short, 
hurried  bark  sprung  straight  at  the  fellow's  throat.  The 
cook  interfered  and  ordered  the  dog  off,  but  she  might  as 
well  have  whistled  to  the  wind;  and  when  she  caught  him  by 
the  collar,  he  jerked  her  across  the  floor  as  if  she  had  been 
a  feather,  until  the  hired  man  came  to  her  aid  and  suc- 
ceeded in  depriving  Lion  of  a  taste  of  that  tramp.  It  is 
unnecessary  to  add  that  when  my  people  finally  got  the 
dog  under  control  the  tramp  was  out  of  sight,  and  for 
aught  I  know  is  running  yet.  Now,  so  obedient  was  Lion 
to  that  cook,  under  ordinary  circumstances,  that  if  she  put 
food  for  him  on  the  floor  and  said,  "Lion,  don't  you  touch 
that,"  he  would  back  off,  lick  his  lips,  eye  the  food  in  the 
most  wistful  manner,  but  would  lie  by  it  all  day  without 
touching  it.  He  knew,  however,  that  his  duty  in  life  was 
to  dispose  of  tough-looking  tramps,  and  no  order  would 
drive  him  from  so  relished  a  duty. 

Mr.  Lukey,  the  "Father  of  the  Mastiff,"  was  once 
attacked  by  a  large  Newfoundland  he  owned,  and  was  in 
most  imminent  danger,  when  his  noted  Countess  (dam  of 
Governor)  broke  the  chain  by  which  she  was  fastened, 
attacked  the  Newfoundland,  and  although  much  the 
smaller  animal,  actually  killed  the  assailant. 

That  this  role  of  protector  should  be  the  Mastiff's  inborn 
disposition  is  perfectly  natural;  as  long  since  as  the  time 
of  Queen  Elizabeth  he  was  "the  Mastie  that  keepyth  the 
house,"  and  for  some  centuries  previous  this  must  have  been 
his  vocation,  to  have  established  it  so  firmly  as  his  character. 
After  perhaps  six  hundred  years  of  use  for  this  purpose,  it 
is  not,  I  repeat,  strange  that  protection  of  life  and  property 
should  be  the  one  object  in  life  of  this  grand  dog.  If  I 
have  not  made  it  sufficiently  plain,  let  me  say  now  that  the 
crowning  glory  of  the  Mastiff,  and  the  immeasurable  value 


582  THE   AMERICAN    BOOK    OF   THE   DOG. 

of  the  breed  as  watch-dogs,  lie  in  the  marked  unwilling- 
ness to  resort  to  strong  measures  until  mild  ones  have  been 
tried  and  failed.  Almost  any  breed  of  dogs,*  or  non-breed, 
will  attack  strangers  if  need  be,  but  the  Mastiff  is  the  only 
dog  whose  special  characteristic  it  is  not  to  attack  until 
warning  and  threats  have  failed. 

One  of  the  most  noble  characteristics  of  the  Mastiff  is 
his  peaceable,  tractable  disposition.  He  can  and  will  fight 
most  savagely  if  forced  into  it,  but  rarely  indeed  does  a 
Mastiff  precipitate  a  fight.  Treat  him  kindly,  and  a  child 
may  control  him;  but  if  he  be  imposed  upon  to  such  an 
extent  that  he  declares  war,  let  man  and  beast  beware,  for 
no  raging  lion  is  more  fierce  or  courageous  than  a  thor- 
oughly angry  Mastiff. 

Perhaps  the.  greatest  pleasure  of  my  Mastiff-breeding 
experience  was  in  giving  a  Mastiff  puppy  to  the  little  blind, 
deaf,  and  dumb  Helen  Keller,  whose  remarkable  history 
was  noted  in  St.  Nicholas  Magazine  about  a  year  since. 
To  such  a  helpless  object  as  this  child,  such  a  dog  as  my 
glorious  old  Gipsey  was  would  be  invaluable 

As  to  what  a  Mastiff  should  be  in  conformation,  much, 
if  not  all,  depends  on  which  post  you  wish  to  tie  to.  If  you 
wish  to  win  prizes  at  dog  shows,  be  exalted  as  owning 
"that  crack  Mastiff,''  the  nearer  you  can  get  to  the  stand- 
ard laid  down  by  Mr.  M.  B.  Wynn  for  the  original  Mastiff 
Club  of  England  the  better.  If  you  interpret  this  standard 
and  scale  of  points  with  strictness  in  every  particular,  and 
breed  to  it  faithfully,  you  will  get  dogs  that  will  be,  bodily,  at 
least,  all  you  want,  and  it  may  be  mentally;  but  if  because 
the  scale  allots  forty  points  in  the  hundred  to  head  prop- 
erties, you  magnify  that  forty  to  ninety-nine,  and  condone 
weak  loins,  straight  hocks,  too  short  bodies,  weak  joints, 
and  frightfully  undershot  muzzles,  as  weighing  nothing 
against  "that  grand  head,"  you  will  probably  get  waddling, 
ugly  brutes  that  will  never  rise  above  the  position  of 
prize-winners  under  "  fancy  "  judges.  That  this  standard 
and  scale  of  points  can  be  carried  out,  and  still  breed 
Mastiffs  as  the  result,  is  shown  by  the  grand  dog  Beau- 


THE  MASTIFF.  583 

fort,  chosen  as  an  illustration  of  this  article,  a  dog  with  the 
extreme  of  short  face  and  realizing  as  near  the  ideal  of  the 
standard  as  a  dog  is  likely  ever  to  do,  yet  without  a  single 
deformity  and  not  overdone  in  a  single  particular.  His  only 
fault,  if  fault  it  may  be  termed,  is  large  dew-claws,  which 
impede  his  action  behind,  and  which  should  have  been 
removed  when  a  puppy,  as  they  possess  no  " fancy"  merit 
or  demerit,  being  simply  "admissible."  Beaufort's  merits 
are  in  his  excellent  fore  legs,  straight  and  strong,  his  deep, 
capacious  chest,  his  admirable  hind  legs,  with  perfection 
in  hocks,  the  very  broad,  flat  kind  most  desirable  in  Mas- 
tiffs, his  vast  skull,  neat  ears,  and  bulky  loin.  His  head  is 
fashionable  to-day,  but  should  the  longer  head  of  Turk, 
Colonel,  etc.,  become  the  fashion  in  years  to  come,  Beaufort 
will  still  be  thoroughly  the  Mastiff  in  bodily  properties. 

As  to  breeding,  I  have  treated  that  subject  at  some 
length  in  the  article  in  this  book  on  the  Old  English  Sheep 
Dog,  and  the  advice  there  given  is  equally  applicable  to  the 
breeding  of  Mastiffs.  All  I  would  add  is  that  the  dog  to 
breed  to  is  the  one  noted  for  getting  good  ones,  and  when 
you  strike  a  good  strain  stick  to  it  as  long  as  it  can  be  sus- 
tained. Remember  that,  in  many  cases,  great  show  bitches 
are  miserable  failures  as  producers.  The  rules  for  rearing 
Mastiffs,  as  distinct  from  those  applying  to  other  breeds,  are 
-few  and  simple,  but  it  may  be  especially  said  of  them  that 
above  all  other  breeds  they  need  the  most  abundant  exercise 
while  young.  They  are  certainly  lazy  dogs,  indisposed  to 
exertion,  and  if  reared  singly  are  not  likely  to  take  the 
required  amount  of  exercise.  To  supply  this  it  is  well  to 
procure  some  kind  of  playmate  for  the  youngsters;  any  cur 
will  answer,  as  long  as  it  be  playful  and  not  too  small.  If 
reared  in  litters,  the  Mastiff  puppies  will  stimulate  each  other 
sufficiently.  Distrust  a  stud  dog  that  is  cooped  up  without 
free  exercise;  some  under  these  circumstances  do  not  seem 
to  fail  as  stock-getters,  others  do.  Lord  Raglan  was  set 
down  as  impotent  until  his  last  owner  put  him  on  the 
road,  following  his  buggy,  then  he  got  puppies  with  as  much 
certainty  as  the  average  stud  dog. 


584  THE  AMERICAN   BOOK   OF   THE   DOG. 

In  estimating  the  scale  of  points  laid  down  by  Mr.  Wynn, 
it  must  be  remembered  that  it  was  framed  by  a  fanatic  on 
"head,"  one  who  exalted  that  property  as  high  as  anybody, 
but  who  at  the  same  time  insisted  on  bodily  vigor,  muscu- 
lar development,  and  the  utmost  activity.  I  would  remark 
as  to  his  requirement  "expression  lowering,"  that  this 
must  not  be  understood  as  savage  or  sullen,  but  that 
the  dog  must  present  such  an  appearance  as  is  calculated 
to  deter  trespassers,  and  as  a  corollary,  he  must  be  above 
permitting  undue  familiarity  from  strangers.  His  work  is 
that  of  the  watch-dog,  and  such  a  dog  must  not  make  up 
with  every  stranger  that  comes  along.  As  ' '  an  ounce  of 
prevention  is  worth  a  pound  of  cure,"  it  is  best  to  have 
your  watch-dog  impress  people  that  they  must  behave  with 
circumspection,  rather  than  that  he  should  invite  them  into 
doing  as  they  please  and  then  have  to  check  them. 

One  piece  of  advice  to  the  visitor  who  goes  to  the  home 
that  a  Mastiff  "  keepyth: "  Do  not  behave  as  though  afraid 
of  the  dog;  many  centuries  of  education  have  taught  him 
that  "  ill-fearers  are  ill-doers."  Approach  the  house  qui- 
etly but  confidently.  If  the  Mastiff  barks,  growls,  or 
smells  of  you,  try  to  proceed  without  noticing  it;  if  he 
seems  determined  to  stop  your  progress,  stand  perfectly 
still  until  some  member  of  the  family  comes  to  your  relief, 
remembering  always  that  the  Mastiff  is  only  a  dog  after 
all,  and  in  doing  his  duty  he  must  not  be  judged  by  the 
standard  of  a  Socrates.  He  acts  from  the  stand-point  of 
his  nature,  not  yours,  so  don't  be  angry  at  his  doing  what 
you  would  do  if  in  his  place;  and,  provoking  as  the  expe- 
rience may  be,  remember  that  it  is  only  faithfulness  on  the 
part  of  the  dog.  Remember,  also,  not  to  attempt  to  caress 
or  fondle  the  dog;  let  him  smell  you  to  his  heart's  content, 
and  show  that  he  is  thoroughly  satisfied  with  you,  before 
you  attempt  familiarities.  Any  good  watch  Mastiff  will 
suspect  an  attempt  to  seduce  him  from  his  duties  if  famil- 
iarity be  resorted  to  before  he  has  made  up  his  mind  on  the 
subject;  be  assured  that  the  chances  are  ninety-nine  to  one 
in  favor  of  the  dog  not  hurting  you  in  the  slightest. 


THE   MASTIFF. 


585 


To  anyone  who  wishes  to  rear  a  true  Mastiff,  in  all  his 
perfection  of  utility,  let  me  say:  Begin  by  making  a  friend 
of  your  dog;  let  him  accompany  you  on  your  walks  abroad; 
let  him  come  into  your  house  and  lie  before  your  fire,  and 
in  every  way  connect  himself  with  you  and  your  welfare. 
If  you  shut  him  out  of  your  house,  how  in  the  name  of  com- 
mon sense  is  he  to  know  that  he  has  any  part  or  interest  in 
it?  You  might  almost  as  well  expect  watching  from  one  of 
a  litter  of  black  Essex  pigs.  Don't  attempt  to  "  conquer" 


MASTIFF    PUPPIES  (five 
Edwy  ex  Wacoula  Donna.     Owned  by  C. 


veeks  old). 
N.   Powell,  Omaha,   Neb. 


him,  " break  him  in,"  or  any  of  the  brutalities  common  to 
the  vulgar  dog-breaker;  a  Mastiff  that  can  be  "  conquered  " 
is  not  the  animal  you  could  trust  were  you  engaged  in  a 
battle  to  the  death  with  a  vicious  burglar  or  tramp;  nor 
would  such  an  animal  be  a  Bayard  in  the  protection  of  your 
wife  and  children  in  a  lonely  farm-house,  with  you  far 
away.  Grave  faults,  such  as  killing  chickens,  etc.,  must 
be  eradicated,  but  don't  go  at  it  with  a  club.  Remember 
how  you  would  treat  your  child  in  such  a  case,  and  try  to 
follow  the  same  lines  with  your  dog,  of  course  allowing  for 
the  difference  in  mental  capacity.  First  love  your  dog, 


586  THE  AMERICAN   BOOK   OF  THE   DOG. 

next  make  him  love  you;  yon  will  never  regret  having 
gained  his  love  and  confidence,  and  the  day  may  come  when 
you  will  be  repaid  an  hundred  fold.  The  nearest  that  a 
cloud  ever  came  to  my  roof-tree  resulted  from  an  episode 
that  would  never  have  happened  had  my  glorious  old 
Gipsey,  her  sons  Lion  or  Hector,  De  Buch  or  Ginger,  been 
at  home. 

I  give  the  standard  set  forth  by  the  original  Mastiff  Club 
of  England,  in  preference  to  that  prepared  by  the  present 
Old  English  Mastiff  Club,  as  it  is  simpler,  being  free  from 
much  technicality,  and  therefore  more  readily  compre- 
hended by  a  layman.  In  all  essentials  the  two  are  sub- 
stantially the  same. 

POINTS  OF  THE  ENGLISH  MASTIFF. 
HEAD. 

General. — Very  massive  and  short,  with  great  breadth 
and  depth  of  skull,  and  squareness  of  muzzle.  Expression 
lowering. 

Forehead. — Broad,  fiat,  and  wrinkled;  eyebrows  heavy, 
with  a  broad  stop  extending  well  into  the  forehead. 

Gfafifo.— Full 

Eyes. — Wide  apart,  small,  and  sunken;  dark-brown  in 
color. 

Muzzle.— Short,  truncated,  deep  and  broad,  not  tapering 
toward  the  nose;  jaws  very  wide;  line  of  profile  from  stop 
level,  not  drooping  toward  the  nose  (i.  e.,  not  Hound-muz- 
zled); black  in  color. 

Nose. — Large;  nostrils  large,  and  a  well-marked  line 
between. 

Lips.—  Thick  and  pendulous;  they  should  fall  forward 
(not  hang  at  the  corners  of  the  mouth  as  in  the  Blood- 
hound). 

Teeth.—  Large,  undershot  or  level. 

Ears. — Small,  pendent  or  semi-erect,  not  placed  so  low 
as  in  the  Hound;  the  darker  the  color  the  better. 


THE   MASTIFF.  587 

BODY. 

General. — Thick-set  and  muscular,  with  great  length 
and  bulk,  on  comparatively  short  legs. 

Neck. — Short,  thick,  and  muscular;  dewlap  slightly 
developed. 

Chest. — Deep,  wide  between  fore  legs. 

Shoulders.— Wide  apart  across  breast  and  back;  shoul- 
der-blades deep. 

Back. — Long  and  broad. 

Loin. — Broad,  flat,  and  muscular. 

Thighs. — Straight,  muscular,  and  thick. 

Stern. — Fine,  short,  straight,  thick  at  root,  tapering  to 
tip,  and  carried  down  generally. 

Fore  legs. — Short,  from  elbow  to  ground  straight,  with 
plenty  of  bone  and  muscle. 

Hind  legs. — Straight,  well  curved  from  stifle  to  hock, 
with  plenty  of  bone;  dew-claws  admissible. 

Feet. — Round,  large,  and  compact. 

Coat. — Hard,  short,  and  fine. 

Color. — Fawn,  with  black  ears  and  muzzle,  or  good  brin- 
dles  equal  pieds  are  admissible  and  equal  for  purity — award 
no  points  for  color. 

HEIGHT. 

General. — Produced  by  depth  of  body,  not  by  length  of 
limb. 

Dogs. — From  twenty-seven  inches  at  shoulder  and  up- 
ward; the  greater  the  height  the  better,  providing  there  is 
no  loss  of  symmetry  and  character,  and  that  the  weight 
increases  in  proportion. 

Bitches. — Generally  average  three  inches  less  than  dogs. 

SCALE   OF   POINTS   FOR   JUDGING. 

HEAD,  40   POINTS. 

Value.  Value. 

Shape  of  skull 10  f  S^T" 

Breadth 3 

Girth  of  skull 10     Muzzle  \  Depth 3 

Ears — carriage  and  size 5  p1?8  ; 


588  THE   AMERICAN   BOOK   OF   THE   DOG. 

BODY,   35   POINTS. 

Value.  Value. 

Neck 4    Length 4 

Breadth  of  breast 4    Thighs 3 

Loin  and  back 4     Stern 3 

Girth  of  chest 4    Legs 3 

Shoulders 4    Feet 2 

GENERAL,  25   POINTS. 

Value. 

Size,  height,  and  general  appearance  of  bulk 15 

Coat 5 

Fawns  with  dark  ears  and  muzzle,  or  brindles  with  dark  ears  and  muzzle. .     5 
Red  with  black  muzzle,  or  all  black,  award  three  points  only. 

Total 1 00 

Fawns  without  dark  points,  brindles  ditto,  reds  without  black  muzzle,  and 
pies  award  no  points  for  color. 

Dogs  of  27  inches  at  shoulder  should  weigh  120  pounds. 
Dogs  of  28  inches  at  shoulder  should  weigh  130  pounds. 
Dogs  of  29  inches  at  shoulder  should  weigh  140  pounds. 
Dogs  of  30  inches  at  shoulder  should  weigh  150  pounds. 
Dogs  of  31  inches  at  shoulder  should  weigh  160  pounds. 
Dogs  of  32  inches  at  shoulder  should  weigh  180  pounds. 
Dogs  of  33  inches  at  shoulder  should  weigh  190  pounds. 
Dogs  of  34  inches  at  shoulder  should  weigh  200  pounds. 
Award  a  less  number  of  points  in  proportion  to  the  deficiency  in  the  speci- 
men being  judged. 


THE  NEWFOUNDLAND. 


BY  L.  F.  WHITMAN. 


>HE  history  of  the  Newfoundland  is  very  brief,  and 
until  the  last  century  no  writer  who  treats  of  dogs 
has  said  anything  about  him.  Among  the  leading 
writers  on  this  breed,  to  whom  I  am  deeply  indebted  for 
much  of  the  information  given  herein,  are  Hugh  Dalziel, 
author  of  "British  Dogs,"  Yero  Shaw,  author  of  "The 
Illustrated  Book  of  the  Dog,"  and  Stonehenge,  author  of 
"The  Dogs  of  the  British  Islands." 

It  is  as  common  to  call  every  large,  black,  shaggy  dog  a 
Newfoundland  as  it  is  to  call  all  small,  shaggy  Terriers 
Scotch  Terriers. 

The  intelligence  of  the  Newfoundland  made  him,  in 
former  times,  where  a  large  dog  was  desirable,  one  of  the 
greatest  of  favorites  in  Great  Britain  long  before  the 
St.  Bernard  was  known  there— his  fine  formation,  great 
strength,  and  stately  carriage  being  unsurpassed,  and 
rendering  him  highly  popular  as  a  companion. 

The  early  settlers  in  Newfoundland  were  mainly  natives 
of  the  Channel  Islands;  and  it  is  a  question  whether  some 
of  these  did  not  bring  with  them  some  large  dogs,  which, 
being  crossed  with  the  native  dogs,  formed,  after  a  time,  a 
new  breed. 

Several  writers  speak  of  the  impurity  of  the  breed  that 
is  now  found  in  Newfoundland,  lamenting  that  it  is  only 
found  there  in  a  mongrelized  form,  having  been  crossed 
with  various  other  breeds.  It  is  extremely  doubtful 
whether  the  breed,  in  its  early  day,  possessed  the  intelli- 
gence of  the  present  Newfoundland.  It  is  more  likely  that 
the  breed  as  now  known  was  manufactured  by  Europeans, 
as  it  was  very  popular  in  England  during  the  latter  part  of 

(589) 


590  THE   AMERICAN   BOOK    OF   THE   DOG. 

the  eighteenth  century,  and  is  referred  to  by  many 
English  writers  of  that  day  as  a  well-known  breed.  It  was 
especially  valued  because  of  the  many  instances  recorded 
of  Newfoundlands  saving  people  from  drowning.  In  Eng- 
land, long  before  dog  shows  were  in  existence,  the  New- 
foundland was  the  trusted  companion  and  guard  of 
people  of  both  high  and  low  decree,  and  everyone  had  his 
own  standard  of  excellence  for  his  pet.  He  is  still  popular 
there,  and  there  are  more  so-called  Newfoundlands  kept 
in  England,  as  guards  and  pets,  than  any  casual  observer 
is  aware  of.  Many  of  the  early  Newfoundlands  differed 
widely,  in  color  and  in  other  points,  from  those  now  held 
to  be  of  the  proper  type. 

In  early  times,  there  were  many  large  dogs  in  New- 
foundland that  were  called  Newfoundlands,  but  the  in- 
habitants of  the  island  looked  only  on  such  as  were 
black,  or  rusty  black,  with  thick,  shaggy  coats,  as  being 
of  the  true  type.  Some  of  the  early  writers  declare  the 
true  breed  to  be  only  of  an  intense  black,  with  a  small 
streak  of  white  on  the  breast.  This  white  marking,  how- 
ever, is  found  on  nearly  all  specimens  of  this  breed.  Other 
authorities  claim  that  the  predominant  color  is  white,  with 
black  head  or  face  mark,  a  black  saddle- mark,  and  other 
black  markings;  and  still  others  claim  the  dog  should  be 
of  a  rusty-dun  shade.  No  doubt  there  are  many  dogs  of 
the  latter  color  in  Newfoundland,  the  faults  arising  from 
the  improper  selection  of  the  breeding  stock,  as  they  vary 
greatly  in  color,  size,  and  coat.  Some  claim  the  dog  should 
be  curly,  others  that  he  should  be  wavy,  and  still  others 
that  he  should  be  shaggy.  The  coat  of  a  Newfoundland 
should  be  of  a  glossy  jet-black  color,  rather  close,  flat,  and 
dense,  and  of  a  coarse  texture. 

In  the  Sportsman's  Cabinet,  published  in  1802,  there  is 
an  engraving  of  a  Newfoundland,  representing  a  dog  very 
similar  to  our  modern  one,  except  that  he  is  not  so  large 
in  head,  is  of  smaller  stature,  and  nearly  white.  The  author 
gives  no  accurate  description,  but  says:  "  The  dog  passing 
under  this  description  is  so  universally  known  in  every 


THE   NEWFOUNDLAND.  591 

part  of  the  kingdom,  and  is  so  accurately  delineated  by  the 
united  efforts  of  the  artists  in  the  representation  annexed, 
that  a  minute  description  of  its  shape,  make,  and  form  may 
be  considered  unnecessary.  .  .  .  He  is  one  of  the  most 
majestic  of  all  the  canine  variety.  Although  at  first  sight 
he  appears  terrific,  from  the  immensity  of  his  magnitude, 
the  placid  serenity  of  his  countenance  as  instantly  dispels 
the  agitating  vibrations  of  fear."  The  opinion  of  such  an 
authority  should  be  given  great  weight  in  considering  what 
should  be  a  true  Newfoundland. 

This  dog  is  very  sensitive,  and  should,  while  young,  be 
managed  carefully.  He  is  greatly  pleased  when  engaged  to 
the  advantage  or  for  the  enjoyment  of  his  master. 

As  a  water  dog  he  can  scarcely  be  excelled;  he  has 
unlimited  courage,  and  his  swimming  powers  are  so  great 
that  no  sea  runs  too  high  for  him  to  face  in  the  discharge 
of  any  duty  imposed  on  him  by  his  master. 

On  account  of  the  water  and  retrieving  propensities  of 
this  breed  of  dogs,  it  has  been  used  largely,  in  England,  by 
the  leading  breeders  of  retrievers  to  strengthen  those  qual- 
ities in  their  dogs.  The  blood  of  the  Newfoundland  has 
also  been  liberally  used  in  producing  the  Chesapeake  Bay 
Dog,  so  popular  among  duck-shooters  in  this  country. 

In  1876,  chieily  at  the  instigation  of  Mr.  Hugh  Dalziel, 
water  trials  for  Newfoundland  dogs  were  held  at  Maid- 
stone  and  Portsmouth,  and  Mr.  Dalziel  says: 

Although  neither  could  be  pronounced  a  brilliant  success,  they  were 
each  of  them,  in  many  respects,  interesting,  and  proved  that,  with  more  expe- 
rience, and  if  well  carried  out,  such  competitive  trials  might  become  more 
than  interesting — highly  useful. 

In  1883,  the  British  Kennel  Association  gave  water  trials  in  connection 
with  their  dog  show  at  Aston- juxta-Birmingham,  many  competing  dogs  show- 
ing great  intelligence. 

The  following  are  the  rules  drafted  by  Mr.  C.  Marshall 
for  the  conduct  of  water  trials  for  dogs,  adopted  at  Maid- 
stone,  England,  in  1876: 

1.  Courage  displayed  in  jumping  into  the  water  from  a  height  to"  recover 
an  object.     The  effigy  of  a  man  is  the  most  suitable  thing. 

2.  The  quickness  displayed  in  bringing  the  object  ashore.  • 


592  THE   AMERICAN    BOOK    OF   THE   DOG. 

3.  Intelligence  and  speed  in  bringing  a  boat  to  shore.    The  boat  must,  of 
course,  be  adrift,  and  the  painter  have  a  piece  of  white  wood  attached  to  keep 
it  afloat,  mark  its  position,  and  facilitate  the  dog's  work. 

4.  To  carry  a  rope  from  shore  to  a  boat  with  a  stranger,  not  the  master, 
in  it. 

5.  Swimming  races,  to  show  speed  and  power  against  stream  or  tide. 

6.  Diving.    A  common  flag  basket,  with  a  stone  in  the  bottom  of  it  to 
sink  it,  answers  well,  as  it  is  white  enough  to  be  seen  and  soft  enough  to  the 
dog's  mouth. 

Water  trials  in  this  country  for  dogs,  properly  managed, 
would  become  extremely  interesting,  and  would  be  an 
incentive  to  the  lovers  of  Newfoundland  and  other  species 
of  dogs  to  breed  and  train  them  for  this  purpose. 

It  would  be  well  to  add  one  of  these  noble  animals  to 
each  of  our  life-saving  stations,  as,  properly  trained,  they 
would  doubtless  be  the  means  of  saving  many  human  lives. 
He  would  not  only  be  ready  to  save  persons  from  drown- 
ing, but  would  be  of  great  assistance  in  other  ways,  as  his 
keenness  of  sight  and  scent  is  surprising  and  his  curiosity 
unlimited. 

Newfoundland  dogs  are  not  active  on  land,  owing  to 
their  carrying  what  dog  men  term  lumber,  which  makes 
them  rather  slow  and  logy;  therefore  they  are  unfit  to 
follow  a  horse  going  at  any  great  rate  of  speed. 

The  following  is  the  recognized  standard  for  judging 
Newfoundland  dogs,  as  formulated  by  Stonehenge  in  k'  The 
Dogs  of  the  British  Islands:  " 

Symmetry  and  general  appearance. — The  dog  should 
impress  the  eye  with  strength  and  great  activity.  He 
should  move  freely  on  his  legs,  with  the  body  swinging 
loosely  between  them,  so  that  a  slight  roll  in  gait  should 
not  be  objectionable;  but,  at  the  same  time,  a  weak  or  hol- 
low back,  slackness  of  the  loins,  or  cow-hocks  should  be 
decided  faults. 

Head. — Should  be  broad  and  massive,  flat  on  the  skull, 
the  occipital  bone  well  developed;  there  should  be  no 
decided  stop,  and  the  muzzle  should  be  short,  clean-cut,  and 
rather  square  in  shape,  and  covered  with  short,  fine  hair. 

Goat. — Should  be  flat  and  dense,  of  a  coarsish  texture 


THE   NEWFOUNDLAND.  593 

and  oily  nature,  and  capable  of  resisting  the  water.  If 
brushed  the  wrong  way,  it  should  fall  back  into  its  place 
naturally. 

Body. — Should  be  well  ribbed  up,  with  a  broad  back;  a 
neck  strong,  well  set  on  to  the  shoulders  and  back,  and 
strong,  muscular  loins. 

Fore  legs. — Should  be  perfectly  straight,  well  covered 
with  muscle;  elbows  in,  but  well  let  down,  and  feathered 
all  down. 

Hind  quarters  and  legs. — Should  be  very  strong.  The 
legs  should  have  great  freedom  of  action  and  a  little 
feather;  slackness  of  loins  and  cow-hocks  are  a  great 
defect;  dew-claws  are  objectionable  and  should  be  removed. 

Chest. — Should  be  deep  and  fairly  broad,  and  well  cov- 
ered with  hair,  but  not  to  such  an  extent  as  to  form  a  frill. 

Bone. — Massive  throughout,  but  not  to  give  a  heavy, 
inactive  appearance. 

Feet. — Should  be  large  and  well-shaped.  Splayed  or 
turned-out  feet  are  objectionable. 

Tail. — Should  be  of  moderate  length,  reaching  down  a 
little  below  the  hocks;  it  should  be  of  fair  thickness  and 
well  covered  with  long  hair,  but  not  to  form  a  flag.  When 
the  dog  is  standing  still,  and  not  excited,  it  should  hang 
downward,  with  a  slight  curve  at  the  end;  but  when  the  dog 
is  in  motion  it  should  be  carried  a  trifle  up,  and  when  he  is 
excited,  straight  out,  with  a  slight  curve  at  end.  Tails 
with  a  kink  in  them,  or  curled  over  the  back,  are  very 
objectionable. 

Ears. — Should  be  small,  set  well  back,  square  with  the 
skull,  lie  close  to  the  head,  and  covered  with  short  hair, 
and  no' fringe. 

Eyes. — Should  be  small,  of  a  dark-brown  color,  rather 
deeply  set,  but  not  showing  any  haw,  and  they  should  be 
rather  wide  apart. 

Color. — Jet-black.  A  slight  tinge  of  bronze,  or  a  splash 
of  white  on  chest  and  toes,  is  not  objectionable. 

Height  and  weight. — Size  and  weight  are  very  desirable 
so  long  as  symmetry  is  maintained.  A  fair  average  height 

38 


594  THE  AMEEICAN   BOOK   OF  THE  DOG. 

at  the  shoulder  is  twenty-seven  inches  for  a  dog  and  twen- 
ty-five for  a  bitch,  and  a  fair  average  weight  is  one  hundred 
pounds  and  eighty -five  pounds,  respectively. 

Among  the  few  fine  Newfoundlands  in  this  country,  the 
most  of  which  were  imported  from  England,  I  will  mention 
Sam,  owned  by  Mr.  J.  A.  Nickerson,  Boston,  Mass. ;  Miro, 
owned  by  Mr.  S.  S.  McCuen,  New  Orleans,  La. ;  Mayor  of 
Bingley,  owned  by  Mr.  C.  H.  Mason,  New  York,  N.  Y.; 
New  York  Lass,  owned  by  Mr.  E.  H.  Morris,  Stapleton, 
N.  Y. ;  Prince  George,  owned  by  Mr.  John  Marshall,  Troy, 
N.  Y. ,  and  Meadowthorpe  Prince  George,  owned  by  Mead- 
owthorpe  Kennels,  Lexington,  Ky. 

Mr.  John  Marshall,  Troy,  N.  Y.,  is  the  most  extensive 
breeder  of  this  variety  of  dogs  in  the  country.  The  Mead- 
owthorpe Kennels,  of  Lexington,  Ky.,  and  Mr.  J.  A.  Nick- 
erson, of  Boston,  Mass.,  formerly  bred  Newfoundlands, 
but  owing  to  the  popularity  of  St.  Bernards  and  Mastiffs, 
and  there  being  very  little  demand  for  the  Newfoundland, 
they  gave  up  in  disgust  the  breeding  of  this  noble  dog.  To 
show  how  little  they  are  thought  of  at  present,  I  will  say 
that  out  of  16,278  dogs  registered  in  the  American  Kennel 
Club  Stud  Book,  there  are  only  thirty-one  Newfoundlands, 
and  of  these,  three  are  registered  as  black  and  white.  It  is 
singular  that,  as  far  as  the  records  show,  no  one  has  im- 
ported a  Landseer  Newfoundland.  They  are  a  noble -look- 
ing dog,  being  white  and  black,  nearly  as  large  as  a  St. 
Bernard,  and  very  intelligent. 

To  show  the  intelligence  of  the  Newfoundland  dog,  I 
quote  the  following  incidents.  "  Pistol  Grip,"  in  the 
American  Field,  says: 

While  in  Helena  recently,  I  saw  a  Newfoundland  dog  which  for  intelli- 
gence will  compare  with  any  dog  in  the  country.  He  ie  owned  by  Mr.  Thomp- 
son, superintendent  of  the  street-car  company,  who  resides  about  two  blocks 
from  the  line  where  the  cars  pass  every  thirty  minutes.  From  one  of  these 
cars  the  family  mail  is  thrown  off.  The  dog  is  always  there  ready  to  receive  it; 
he  never  has  yet  made  a  mistake  in  the  time  upon  which  it  will  arrive,  or  mis- 
taken the  car;  he  goes  without  being  told,  and  does  his  duty  correctly.  He 
never  goes  to  the  car  on  Sundays,  as  there  is  no  mail,  and  always  knows  when 
that  day  arrives.  He  does  many  other  things  with  equal  intelligence. 


THE   NEWFOUNDLAND.  595 

The  following  is  from  the  Pittsburgh  Dispatch: 

A  well-known  resident  of  Oakland  has  a  large  Newfoundland  dog  that  is 
a  wonder  in  his  way,  and  he  weighs  about  one  hundred  and  sixty  pounds. 
The  gentleman  walked  into  the  Dispatch  business  office  yesterday  accompanied 
by  his  dog,  and  purchased  an  additional  paper  to  mail  to  a  relative  in  Illinois. 
The  paper  was  wrapped  up,  and  after  placing  a  two-cent  stamp  on  the  wrap- 
per and  addressing  it,  the  gentleman  gave  the  paper  to  the  dog.  The  owner 
got  into  his  buggy  and  drove  to  the  post-office,  the  dog  running  alongside  the 
horse.  At  the  post-office,  the  gentleman  stopped,  but  the  dog  didn't.  He 
mounted  the  steps,  trotted  down  the  corridor  to  the  receiving-boxes,  and 
taking  hold  of  one  end  of  the  paper  in  his  teeth,  he  inserted  the  other  in  the 
opening  into  the  paper-box,  and  with  his  nose  pushed  it  through  the  hole. 
He  had  no  hesitancy  about  brushing  his  wet  coat  up  against  the  light  check 
trousers  of  several  young  men  standing  near  the  box,  and  when  one  of  them 
wanted  to  help  him  push  the  paper  through  the  opening,  he  growled,  as  much 
as  to  say  he  knew  his  business,  and  could  get  along  without  outside  assistance. 
After  depositing  the  paper  in  the  box,  the  dog  bounded  out  again  to  his  master, 
who  was  waiting  for  him.  "It  took  me  two  weeks  to  train  him  to  do  that 
trick,  but  it  paid  me  for  the  trouble,"  said  the  gentleman. 

Stonehenge  says: 

The  Rev.  S.  Atkinson,  of  Gateshead,  had  a  narrow  escape  in  trying  to 
rescue  one  of  two  ladies  who  were  immersed  in  the  sea  at  Newbiggin,  being 
himself  unable  to  swim;  but  his  fine  dog  Cato  came  to  their  aid  from  some  con- 
siderable distance  without  being  called,  and  with  his  help  Mr.  Atkinson  was 
safely  brought  to  shore,  together  with  his  utterly  exhausted  charge. 

There  is  another  strain  of  Newfoundland  dogs  which  has 
many  admirers,  who  claim  them  to  be  of  the  true  breed. 
They  are  white  and  black — mostly  white,  with  usually  an 
even -marked  black  head,  with  a  white  strip  running  up  the 
forehead.  Opinions  differ  as  to  this  dog  being  of  the 
Newfoundland  breed,  the  best  authorities  pronouncing  it  to 
be  originally  a  fine  mongrel,  possessing  many  of  the  points, 
but  lacking  some  of  the  characteristics,  of  the  true  breed. 

It  is  not  known  how  the  so-called  Landseer  Newfound- 
land ever  came  into  existence,  but  it  can  not  be  denied 
that  it  is,  in  appearance,  much  like  the  Newfoundland 
proper.  It  is  true  that  many  dogs  of  this  color  are  found 
in  Newfoundland,  but  that  is  not  proof  of  their  being  of 
the  true  breed.  They  differ  little  from  the  black,  except  in 
color,  the  curling  of  the  coat,  and  the  head,  which  is 
smaller,  and  not  so  solid-looking. 


596  THE   AMERICAN   BOOK    OF   THE   DOG. 

Sir  Edwin  Landseer,  in  his  painting  entitled  "A  Dis- 
tinguished Member  of  the  Humane,  Society,"  represented  a 
black  and  white  dog  of  the  Newfoundland  type,  which 
made  this  variety  very  popular  for  a  time,  on  account  of 
which  the  English  bench-show  committees  were  compelled 
to  make  a  separate  class  for  them,  calling  them  the  Land- 
seer  Newfoundland.  In  England,  this  dog  was  esteemed 
highly  as  a  companion,  his  color  and  markings  making 
him  a  very  attractive  dog,  his  gentleness  and  devotion 
being  unsurpassed.  To  Dr.  Gordon  Stables  belongs  the 
honor  of  first  naming  this  breed  the  Landseer  Newfound- 
land. There  are  very  few,  if  any,  dogs  of  this  breed  in 
this  country,  and  as  a  matter  of  fact  they  are  not  recog- 
nized as  a  distinct  breed  by  our  bench- show  committees, 
they  making  no  classes  for  them. 

Some  years  ago,  Master  Willis  Hoyt,  Aurora,  111.,  had  a 
fine  Newfoundland  dog,  who  always  accompanied  his 
young  master  to  school,  carrying  the  boy's  lunch-basket. 
On  the  way  to  school,  the  young  man  was  compelled  to 
cross  a  bridge  over  a  small  river,  and  in  warm  weather 
it  was  the  invariable  custom  of  the  dog  to  leave  his  basket 
on  the  bridge  while  he  took  a  bath,  to  cool  himself  off. 
One  morning,  one  of  the  other  lads  took  the  basket  and 
hid  it,  for  the  purpose  of  annoying  the  dog  and  seeing 
what  he  would  do.  The  dog  hunted  around  for  some 
time,  and  finally  the  lad  gave  the  basket  to  him.  The 
next  morning,  when  the  dog  arrived  at  the  bridge,  he  did 
not  propose  to  have  his  basket  tampered  with,  therefore  he 
kept  possession  of  it  and  plunged  into  the  water,  basket  and 
contents  being  thoroughly  wetted.  His  young  master, 
seeing  the  damage  that  had  been  done,  said  to  the  dog, 
"Now,  you  take  that  basket  home,  and  get  me  another 
dinner."  The  dog  took  the  basket  home,  but  did  not  return 
with  the  lad's  dinner,  for  his  people  at  home  could  not 
make  out  why  the  dinner  was  wet,  or  what  the  dog 
wanted.  No  doubt  he  would  have  taken  the  basket  to  his 
young  master  if  it  had  again  been  filled. 

A  number  of  years  ago,  Mr.  Rochester,  of  Rochester, 


THE  NEWFOUNDLAND. 


597 


N.  Y.,  had  a  pair  of  tine  dogs,  one  a  Newfoundland  and 
the  other  a  white  French  Poodle.  It  was  the  owner's 
custom  to  put  the  Poodle  in  a  small  basket  every  morning, 
and  give  the  basket  to  the  Newfoundland  to  take  the 
Poodle  for  an  airing.  In  the  neighborhood  there  was  a 
black  cur  that  used  to  nip  the  Newfoundland' s  hind  legs  as 
he  was  passing.  One  morning,  the  Newfoundland  put  his 
basket  down  on  the  ground,  went  for  the  cur,  gave  him  an 
unmerciful  shaking  up,  and  after  that  he  could  perform 
his  duties  as  nurse  without  being  annoyed  by  that  cur. 
This  same  dog  went  to  the  post-office  each  day,  and  placing 
his  feet  up  on  the  window-shelf,  waited  for  the  family 
mail,  after  getting  which  he  trotted  home,  and  he  was 
never  known  to  lose  any  of  it. 


THE  BULLDOG. 


BY  JOHN  E.  THAYER. 


can  be  no  doubt  that  the  Bulldog  belongs  to 
one  of  the  oldest  races  of  dogs.  This  breed  is  accu- 
rately described  in  Edmond  De  Langley'  s  ' c  Mayster 
of  Game,"  under  the  name  of  "  Alaunt."  This  manuscript 
is  now  in  the  British  Museum.  To  the  Bulldog  many  of 
our  most  popular  breeds  owe  some  of  their  best  qualities, 
such  as  courage  and  endurance,  and  nearly  every  species  of 
the  canine  race  has  at  one  time  or  another  been  crossed  with 
the  Bulldog  in  order  to  strengthen  it  in  some  way. 

The  Bulldog  has  always  been  highly  prized  by  the  Eng- 
lish people,  on  account  of  his  great  courage  and  endurance; 
and,  indeed,  he  has  "become  so  identified  with  them  as  to 
be  frequently  used  to  typify  their  national  character." 

In  the  reign  of  James  I. ,  bull-baiting  was  at  its  height. 
It  was  a  favorite  pastime  for  all  classes  of  people,  and  it 
was  this  sport  that  first  brought  the  Bulldog  into  promi- 
nence. A  dog  that  could  bring  a  bull  to  the  ground  was  in 
great  demand,  and  nearly  every  butcher  in  the  kingdom  had 
one  trained  to  this  work.  It  was  claimed  that  the  meat  of 
a  bull  that  had  been  "baited "  was  much  finer  than  that  of 
those  which  had  not  been,  and  consequently  few  bulls  were 
slaughtered  that  were  not  first  subjected  to  this  cruel 
ordeal. 

The  Bulldog  took  readily  to  bull-baiting,  it  being 
natural  for  him  to  run  at  the  head  of  any  animal  he 
attacks,  and  after  pinning  him,  to  remain  there  as  if  glued. 
So  tightly  does  he  hold  that  there  have  been  instances 
known  where  the  bull  has  torn  the  body  of  the  dog  from 
the  head  and  yet  the  head  has  clung  to  the  bull. 

The  dog  would  creep  up  to  the  bull,  seize  him  by  the 

(599) 


600  THE  AMERICAN    BOOK    OF   THE   DOG. 

nose,  and  stay  there  until  lie  had  "pinned  him."  Fora 
dog  to  have  been  expert  in  this  so-called  sport,  he  must 
have  possessed  certain  essential,  points.  He  must  have  had 
a  big  head,  which  is  an  unvarying  indication  of  courage; 
Ms  nose  must  have  been  well  turned  back  to  enable  him  to 
breathe  freely  when  fastened  to  the  bull;  he  must  have 
been  low  on  his  legs,  as  a  long-legged  dog  would  be  in 
greater  danger  of  being  gored  by  the  bull.  Of  course  this 
occupation  required  great  courage,  fortitude,  and  endur- 
ance, but  the  Bulldog  has  plenty  of  these.  Bulldogs  were 
therefore  bred  for  these  points  and  characteristics,  and  the 
type  thus  developed  is  the  one  that  is  considered  standard 
to-day. 

In  1835  an  act  was  passed  by  the  English  Parliament  for 
the  prevention  of  cruelty  to  animals,  and  this  put  a  stop  to 
all  public  exhibitions  of  bull-baiting,  although  it  was 
kept  up  by  miners  and  professional  sports,  in  out-of-the- 
way  places,  for  a  good  many  years  thereafter.  Although 
it  was  a  most  cruel  sport,  and  was  justly  prohibited,  yet  it 
was  unfortunate  that  on  that  account  this  noble  dog  should 
have  fallen  into  disrepute  and  neglect,  as  he  did. 

As  soon  as  public  baiting  was  prohibited,  the  Bulldog 
fell  into  the  hands  of  the  lowest  and  most  disreputable 
class  of  sports  and  toughs,  and  deteriorated  rapidly  in 
form  and  general  characteristics. 

The  qualities  for  which  the  dog  was  formerly  most 
valued,  not  having  any  further  employment  or  opportunity 
to  develop,  soon  began,  under  this  loose  breeding  and 
handling,  to  disappear;  fine  specimens  became  rare,  and  in 
time  almost  unknown.  The  Bulldog  is  only  used  now, 
generally  speaking,  as  a  pet  or  a  watch-dog,  and  is  care- 
fully bred  for  points,  in  order  that  he  may  win  prizes  at 
bench  shows. 

At  one  time  there  were  so  many  different  types  of  Bull- 
dogs, and  so  few  good  specimens  and  sizes,  that  a  few  prom- 
inent English  breeders  got  together  and  formed  the  New 
Bulldog  Club,  which  has  since  exerted  a  great  influence  in 
rescuing  this  breed  from  extinction. 


(601. 


602  THE   AMERICAN    BOOK   OF   THE   DOG. 

It  is  amazing  that  the  Bulldog  is  as  affectionate  as  he  is 
when  we  remember  how  the  breed  has  been  treated  for  gen- 
erations past.  Bred  solely  with  a  view  to  developing  their 
savagery,  their  viciousness,  their  blood-thirsty  nature,  con- 
fined, hampered,  and  in  many  instances  tantalized,  purely 
for  the  purpose  of  cultivating  their  savage  instincts,  it 
would  not  have  been  strange  had  we  seen  them  to-day 
utterly  uncontrollable,  instead  of  the  gentle,  affectionate, 
tractable  creatures  that  they  are. 

The  Bulldog  of  to-day  is  faithful,  and  if  brought  up 
properly  is  affectionate.  He  is  not  remarkably  intelligent, 
as  his  brain  has  never  been  developed.  In  his  present  uses 
and  occupations  there  is  no  occasion  for  mental  qualities  or 
instincts  of  a  high  order,  and  it  is  not  likely,  therefore,  that 
these  will  ever  be  cultivated  to  any  great  extent;  nor  can 
the  present  type,  in  my  judgment,  be  much  improved.  His 
traits  and  characteristics  can  be  greatly  improved,  however, 
by  better  treatment  than  that  which  is  in  many  cases 
accorded  him. 

Many  farmers  and  others  who  keep  Bulldogs  as  senti- 
nels and  for  handling  stock,  keep  them  chained  day  and 
night.  When  a  stranger  enters  the  gate,  the  dog  of  course 
^  flies  at  him,  and  is  only  prevented  from  tearing  him  up  by 
the  shortness  and  strength  of  his  chain.  Such  treatment 
always  spoils  a  dog  of  any  breed.  If  allowed  his  freedom 
and  treated  with  due  kindness,  this  same  Bulldog  could 
readily  be  trained  not  to  molest  visitors,  other  than 
thieves,  tramps,  and  peddlers,  whom  he  would  readily  recog- 
nize as  his  legitimate  prey. 

The  savage  appearance  of  the  Bulldog  causes  many 
people  who  do  not  know  his  real  nature  to  fear  him,  and 
only  when  they  see  him  securely  anchored,  with  a  chain 
big  enough  to  hold  a  ship,  can  they  be  induced  to  go  into 
the  same  field  with  him. 

This  prejudice  is  readily  removed  when  these  people 
learn  to  know  the  breed.  Another  reason  why  this  breed 
is  ^unpopular  is  that  every  mongrel  cur  that  has  a  short, 
thick  nose  and  an  ugly  face  is  popularly  dubbed  a  Bulldog, 


THE   BULLDOG.  603 

while  in  many  cases  there  is  not  a  drop  of  Bulldog  blood 
in  him.  Many  people  who  are  prejudiced  against  Bulldogs 
have  never  seen  a  pure  one  in  their  lives. 

I  have  owned  over  forty  Bulldogs,  yet  I  never  owned  but 
one  that  was  cross,  and  that  any  respectable  person  could 
not  safely  approach  and  handle.  This  one  had  been  spoiled 
by  being  chained  before  I  got  him.  He  would  not  allow 
me  to  touch  him,  and  once  attacked  his  keeper  savagely 
while  grooming  him;  yet  the  keeper's  child,  five  years 
old,  would  go  into  this  dog's  kennel  and  play  with  him  by 
the  hour.  This  illustrates  a  strong  trait  in  the  character  / 
of  the  Bulldog — his  affection  for  children.  This  trait  is 
constant — the  Bulldog,  like  all  other  noble  animals,  is  fond 
of  children;  in  fact,  I  can  safely  say  that  no  more  affec- 
tionate dog  lives  than  the  one  under  discussion,  provided 
his  early  training  is  kindly  and  judicious.  Bulldogs  are 
difficult  to  breed,  and  demand  the  greatest  care  and  atten- 
tion. They  are  extremely  poor  mothers,  and  often  eat 
their  own  puppies.  I  raised  but  ten  puppies  from  twelve 
bitches  one  year,  and  for  a  good  many  years  never  did  as 
well.  While  in  England  I  took  special  pains  to  learn  from 
other  breeders  what  success  they  had  met  with,  and  found 
it  was  not  much  better  than  my  own.  No  breed  is  more 
liable  to  deterioration.  In  a  litter  you  seldom  get  more 
than  one  puppy  that  is  up  to  standard;  in  fact,  I  never 
raised  but  one  first-class  Bulldog  in  all  my  experience,  and  I 
think  that  there  have  been  only  two,  or  possibly  three,  ever 
raised  in  America  that  were  first-class  in  every  particular, 
although  we  have  had  the  very  best  of  material  to  work 
with. 

There  were  so  few  good  dogs  bred  that  a  few  fakirs 
undertook  to  aid  nature.  In  order  to  shorten  the  upper 
jaw  and  turn  the  nose  well  up,  the  operators  first  severed 
the  middle  and  two  side  lip -strings  which  connect  the 
upper  lip  of  the  dog  with  the  gum.  When  this  was  done, 
a  small  wooden  block,  hollowed  so  as  to  fit  the  bridge  of 
the  nose,  was  applied  to  it,  just  in  front  of  the  eyes,  and 
was  struck  a  heavy  blow  with  a  mallet.  This  had  the 


604  THE   AMERICAN   BOOK   OF   THE   DOG. 

effect  of  compressing  the  bone  and  cartilage  and  of  turning 
the  nose  up  as  desired.  This  cruel  and  inhuman  operation 
was  performed  when  the  puppies  were  but  a  few  weeks  old. 
It  was  practiced  only  in  private,  and  whenever  the  perpe- 
trators were  detected  in  the  act  they  were  severely  and 
justly  punished. 

The  following  may  be  mentioned  among  the  many  Amer- 
ican breeders  or  owners  of  good  Bulldogs:  Hillside  Ken- 
nels, Lancaster,  Mass. ;  E.  S.  Porter,  New  Haven,  Conn. ; 
R.  B.  Sawyer,  Birmingham,  Conn. ;  Retnor  Kennels,  4  West 
Sixty-sixth  street,  New  York  City;  J.  Lee  Tailer,  12  East 
Tenth  street,  New  York  City;  John  H.  Matthews,  333  East 
Twenty-sixth  street,  New  York  City;  W.  J.  Comstock,  220 
Canal  street,  Providence,  R.  L;  H.  D.  Kendall,  Lowell, 
Mass.;  William  J.  Leckie,  Jamaica  Plain,  Mass.;  F.  R. 
Yarick,  Manchester,  N.  H. ;  J.  P.  Barnard,  North  Wey- 
mouth,  Mass. ;  J.  W.  Heitz,  Burlington,  Iowa;  H.  P. 
McKean,  Jr.,  Pulaski  avenue,  German  town,  Penn. ;  R.W. 
Livingston,  New  York  City. 

The  following  is  the  scale  of  points  as  adopted  by  the 
New  Bulldog  Club  in  1875: 

General  appearance. — Symmetrical  formation  ;  shape, 
make,  style,  and  fineness.  Points,  10. 

Skull. — Size,  height,  breadth,  and  squareness  of  skull, 
shape,  flatness,  and  wrinkles  of  forehead.  Points,  15. 

Stop.—  Depth,  breadth,  and  extent.     Points,  5. 

Eyes. — Position,  size,  shape,  and  color.  .  Points,  5. 

Ears. — Position,  size,  shape,  carriage,  and  thinness. 
Points,  5. 

Face.— Shortness,  breadth,  and  wrinkle  of  face;  breadth, 
bluntness,  squareness,  and  upward  turn  of  muzzle;  position, 
breadth,  size,  and  backward  indication  of  tip  of  nose;  size, 
width,  blackness  of,  and  depth  between,  nostrils.  Points,  5. 

Chop. — Size  and  complete  covering  of  front  teeth. 
Points,  5. 

Mouth.— Width,  squareness  of  jaws,  projection  and  up- 
ward turn  of  lower  jaw;  size  and  condition  of  teeth,  and  if 
the  six  lower  front  teeth  are  in  an  even  row.  Points,  5. 


•••**%:, 

MS 

IHP 

^s>il*  -  * 


*  -*&, 


THE   BULLDOG. 


605 


Chest  and  neck. — Length,  thickness,  arching,  and  dew- 
lap of  neck,  width,  depth,  and  roundness  of  chest.  Points,  5. 

Shoulders. — Size,  breadth,  and  muscle.     Points,  5. 

Body. — Capacity,  depth,  and  thickness  of  brisket;  round- 
ness of  ribs.  Points,  5. 

Back  roach. — Shortness,  width  at  shoulders,  and  height, 
strength,  and  at  the  loins.  Points,  5. 

Tail. — Fineness,  shortness,  shape,  position,  and  carriage. 
Points,  5. 

Fore  legs  and  feet.  — Stoutness,  shortness,  and  straight- 
ness  of  legs,  development  of  calves,  and  outward  turn  of 
elbows;  straightness  and  strength  of  ankle;  roundness, 
size,  and  position  of  feet;  compactness  of  toes;  height  and 
prominence  of  knuckles.  Points,  5. 

Hind  legs  and  feet. — Stoutness,  length,  and  size  of  legs; 
development  of  muscles;  strength,  shape,  and  position  of 
hocks  and  stifles;  formation  of  feet  and  toes,  as  in  fore 
legs  and  feet.  Points,  5. 

Size. — Approach  fifty  pounds.     Points,  5. 

Coat. — Fineness,  shortness,  evenness,  and  closeness  of 
coat,  uniformity,  points,  and  brilliancy  of  color.  Points,  5. 
Total  points,  100. 


THE  DALMATIAN  DOG. 


BY  T.  J.  WOODCOCK. 


Dalmatian,  or  Coach  Dog,  came  from  the  Province 
of  Dalmatia,  in  the  southern  part  of  Austria,  border- 
ing on  the  northeast  shore  of  the  Adriatic  Sea,  and 
from  this  province  it  derives  its  name.  It  is  known  in 
France  as  the  "  Braque  de  Bengale,"  and  is  there  supposed 
to  be  an  Indian  variety. 

It  is  impossible  to  speak  with  any  degree  of  certainty 
regarding  the  origin  of  this  remarkably  handsome  breed, 
but  it  is  apparently  the  result  of  a  cross  between  the 
Hound  and  the  Pointer.  Some  English  breeders  have 
believed  it  to  be  a  cross  between  a  Bull  Terrier  and  a 
Pointer,  but  neither  its  form  nor  its  markings  appear  to 
justify  this  claim.  The  breed  to-day  in  America  certainly 
does  not  resemble  the  Bull  Terrier,  although  it  has  a 
striking  resemblance  to  the  Pointer,  and  possesses  at  least 
one  of  his  most  prominent  characteristics.  In  fact,  the 
writer,  in  strolling  across  the  country  near  one  of  Chicago's 
suburbs,  accompanied  by  a  favorite  (untrained)  Dalmatian, 
has  frequently  seen  him  point  game  in  a  manner  that 
would  do  credit  to  a  well-trained  Pointer.  It  is  certain 
that  the  Dalmatian  was  used  in  his  native  country  in  the 
field,  although  the  breed,  from  lack  of  practice  on  game, 
has,  generally  speaking,  lost  its  keenness  of  scent. 

The  type  of  the  breed  has  changed  but  little  in  several 
centuries,  the  oldest  pictures  extant  showing  him  in  sub- 
stantially the  same  form  as  he  is  seen  at  our  modern 
-bench  shows. 

Formerly,  the  barbarous  custom  of  clipping  the  ears 
prevailed  among  fanciers  of  this  breed,  as  among  those  of 
the  Bulldog  and  the  Bull  Terrier,  some  breeders  taking  off 

(607) 


608  THE   AMERICAN   BOOK    OF   THE   DOG. 

the  whole  ear-lap,  giving  the  animal  a  most  hideous 
appearance,  and  subjecting  it  to  great  suffering.  In  many 
instances,  canker  and  deafness  resulted.  Fortunately, 
however,  this  cruel  practice  has  been  abandoned,  under 
the  more  humane  public  sentiment  of  modern  times,  and 
bench-show  judges  no  longer  tolerate  such  mutilation. 

Few  breeds  attract  more  attention  at  bench  shows  than 
the  Dalmatian,  notwithstanding  the  few  entries  that  are 
made.  The  trim,  graceful  form,  the  high,  well-carried 
head,  the  alert  expression  of  eye  and  ear,  and  the  beautiful 
marking  of  the  Coach,  render  him  an  object  of  interest  to 
all  lovers  of  the  dog. 

The  body  of  a  typical  Dalmatian  should  be  white,  with 
black  or  liver-colored  spots  evenly  distributed  over  the 
body,  head,  neck,  legs,  and  tail.  These  spots  should  be 
round,  not  smaller  than  a  silver  dime,  nor  larger  than  a 
half-dollar.  Black  markings  are  preferred,  by  most  fan- 
ciers, to  the  brown.  Both  colors  are  found  on  some  speci- 
mens, and  while  this  is  admissible,  it  is  not  generally 
regarded  as  showing  careful  breeding.  Such  marking 
indicates  a  mixture  of  blood  of  the  two  varieties. 

Many  otherwise  good  specimens  fail  in  competition 
through  having  no  spots  on  the  tail,  and  common  fiat, 
black  faces  or  ears  are  decided  blemishes. 

In  buying  a  Dalmatian  it  is  well  to  examine  the  feet  and 
legs,  for  a  dog  with  imperfectly  formed  or  weak  legs  can 
not  endure  the  fatigue  of  a  long  run  after  a  carriage. 

A  noticeable  peculiarity  in  this  breed  is  the  fact  that 
the  puppies  when  first  whelped  are  often  pure  white,  the 
spots  developing  within  a  few  days.  A  friend  of  the  writer, 
not  being  aware  of  this  fact,  destroyed  a  very  promising 
litter,  with  the  exception  of  one,  which  showed  faint  signs 
of  black  spots.  The  spots  developed  in  time,  but  the  speci- 
men did  not  prove  a  handsome  one.  Doubtless  several  of 
those  that  were  killed  would  have  proven  far  better. 

The  Dalmatian  is  the  Coach  Dog  par  excellence.  His 
love  for  horses,  his  neetness  of  foot,  his  sagacity  and  cour- 
age as  a  guardian  of  property  left  in  his  charge,  render  him 


THE   DALMATIAN    DOG. 


609 


extremely  valuable,  and  it  is  strange  that  so  few  of 
them  are  owned  and  trained  for  this  purpose.  It  is  so  sel- 
dom that  a  well- trained  Dalmatian  is  seen  in  his  proper 
position,  between  the  heels  of  the  horse  and  the  fore  axle, 
or  under  the  pole  between  both  horses — if  a  span — that 
when  such  a  sight  is  presented  it  invariably  excites  the 
curiosity  and  admiration  of  all  beholders. 


A    TYPICAL    DALMATIAN. 

It  is  a  common  error  to  suppose  that  the  breed  in  ques- 
tion is  devoid  of  intelligence  and  unsuitable  for  use  in  any 
other  capacity  than  in  the  stable  and  about  the  carriage. 
The  writer  has  owned  many  fine  dogs  of  various  breeds, 
and  for  general  usefulness  and  intelligence,  as  a  house-dog 
and  as  a  companion,  prefers  the  black-spotted  Dalmatian  to 
any  other. 

One  specimen  that  I  owned  was  a  most  excellent  ratter, 
and  on  one  occasion  killed  eleven  rats  within  a  few  minutes. 
This  was  an  exceptional  animal,  however,  for  this  quality 

39 


610  THE  AMERICAN   BOOK   OF   THE   DOG. 

was  almost  entirely  lacking  in  others  descended  from  this 
same  stock. 

Once  on  a  cold  winter  evening,  while  driving  home,  the 
faithful  Dalmatian  called  our  attention  to  a  figure  at  the 
roadside.  On  investigation,  it  was  found  to  be  a  man, 
insensible  from  drink,  and  but  for  the  dog  he  would  have 
been  run  over;  or,  escaping  this,  would  possibly  have  been 
allowed  to  remain  out  all  night,  and  would  have  frozen  to 
death. 

A  Dalmatian  becomes  warmly  attached  to  a  horse,  and 
will  at  once  notify  his  master  of  any  danger  that  may 
threaten  the  animal.  An  instance  is  recalled  in  which  a 
horse  was  allowed  to  pasture  on  a  vacant  lot  near  the  rail- 
road tracks.  The  horse  wandered  among  the  tracks,  and 
was  in  immediate  danger  of  being  killed  by  a  train  that  was 
nearly  due.  The  dog  at  once  ran  to  the  master,  barking 
and  showing  by  unmistakable  signs  that  something  was 
wrong  with  the  horse.  He  guided  the  master  to  the  horse 
in  time  to  avert  the  threatened  disaster. 

Schuyler,  a  dog  of  the  breed  in  question,  once  owned  by 
the  writer,  and  who  was  awarded  a  first  prize- at  a  Chicago 
bench  show,  was  a  splendid  watch-dog.  At  night,  the  inside 
doors  of  the  house  were  all  left  open,  and  he  had  full  range 
of  the  house.  He  would  go  into  a  room,  glance  over  the 
bed  as  if  to  see  if  all  were  there  and  sleeping  soundly, 
making  thus  the  complete  circuit  of  the  house.  He  would 
then  lie  down  for  awhile,  and  would  make  the  rounds  at 
frequent  intervals  during  the  night. 

^  One  dark  night,  during  the  labor  troubles,  a  man  laid 
violent  hands  on  the  owner  of  Schuyler,  but  regretted  it 
for  many  a  day  thereafter,  for  the  dog  at  once  sprung  and 
seized  him  by  the  throat  in  a  deadly  grasp.  The  poor 
fellow  was  only  too  glad  to  have  the  dog  called  off. 

A  good  Coach  Dog  has  often  saved  his  owner  much  val- 
uable property  by  watching  the  carriage.  It  is  a  trick  of 
thieves  who  work  in  pairs  for  one  to  engage  the  coachman  in 
conversation,  while  the  other  sneaks  around  in  the  rear  and 
steals  whatever  robes  or  other  valuables  he  can  lay  his 


THE   DALMATIAN   DOG.  611 

hands  on.  I  never  lost  an  article  while  the  dogs  were  in 
charge,  but  was  continually  losing  when  the  coachman  was 
in  charge.  ^. 

The  same  general  rules  for  breeding,  kennel  management, 
and  the  treatment  of  diseases  will  apply  to  the  Dalmatian 
as  to  other  breeds. 

In  training  for  the  carriage,  it  is  usually  found  necessary 
to  tie  a  young  dog  in  proper  position,  under  the  fore  axles, 
for  seven  or  eight  drives  before  he  will  go  as  required. 
Some  bright  puppies,  however,  require  little  or  no  training, 
especially  if  they  can  be  allowed  to  run  with  an  old  dog 
that  is  already  trained. 

The  Dalmatian  may  easily  be  trained  to  perform  tricks, 
errands,  etc.,  the  method  employed  being  the  same  as 
that  used  in  training  a  dog  of  any  other  breed.  Kindness 
is  essential  in  the  training  and  handling  of  this,  as  of  any 
other  dog.  You  must  secure  the  dog's  love  and  confidence 
before  you  can  hope  to  make  him  obey  you.  Under  kind 
treatment,  the  Dalmatian  is  always  bright,  playful,  and 
intelligent,  but  with  bad  treatment  is  sure  to  become  sullen 
and  treacherous. 

As  a  rule,  he  has  great  love  for  children,  is  faithful  in 
guarding  them,  and  is  desperate  when  they  are  molested. 
He  is  kind  and  gentle,  friendly  even  to  strangers  when  off 
duty;  is  brave,  and  averse  to  fighting,  but  when  compelled 
to  fight  is  a  dangerous  antagonist. 

In  preparing  the  Dalmatian  for  the  bench,  never  fail  to 
give  him  a  thorough  bath,  as  a  perfectly  clean  coat  is  nec- 
essary in  order  to  make  the  black  spots  shine  out  from  the 
white  body  with  the  greatest  brilliancy.  It  is  well  to  bathe 
the  dog  frequently  when  not  on  exhibition,  as  it  is  con- 
ducive to  the  health  as  well  as  beauty  of  the  animal. 

The  Dalmatian  bitch  Lulu,  owned  by  the  writer,  was  a 
beautiful  specimen,  descended  from  notable  English  prize- 
winners. She,  with  a  litter  of  puppies,  attracted  so  much 
attention  at  the  Chicago  bench  shows  that  the  commis- 
sioner in  charge  of  the  bench  show  held  at  the  International 
Centennial  Exhibition  at  Philadelphia,  in  1876,  sent  for  her. 


612  THE  AMERICAN   BOOK   OF   THE   DOG. 

She  was  placed  on  exhibition  there,  with  a  litter  of  puppies; 
was  shown  great  attention,  and  was  greatly  admired  by 
thousands  of  people.  She  was  awarded  a  diploma  and 
medal  as  best  Dalmatian  bitch,  with  honorable  mention  for 
puppies.  Unfortunately,  no  photograph  of  this  bitch  was 
taken,  but  the  accompanying  illustration  is  that  of  one  of 
the  best  living  specimens. 

Following  is  the  standard  and  scale  of  points  for  judging 
the  Dalmatian: 

SCALE   OF   POINTS. 

Value.  Value. 

General  appearance 10    Head,  including  ears  and  eyes. . .     5 

Color,  markings,  and  coat 25    Legs,  feet,  and  tail 5 

Neck,  chest,  and  body 5  — 

Total 50 

The  head  should  be  wide  and  flat,  blunt  at  muzzle,  and 
light-lipped;  nose  black. 

Ears  rather  small,  V-shaped,  and  very  fine.  If  these 
are  well  spotted,  great  beauty  is  added  to  the  dog's  appear- 
ance. 

Eyes  dark,  and  inclined  to  be  small,  not  extremely  large. 

Neck  arched  and  light,  tapering  onto  powerful  and 
sloping  shoulders. 

Chest  deep,  rather  broad. 

Body  round  in  ribs  and  well  ribbed  up  behind. 

Fore  legs  straight  and  very  muscular.  Plenty  of  bone  is 
essential  in  this  breed,  so  as  to  enable  a  dog  to  stand  the 
wear  and  tear  it  has  to  encounter  on  hard  roads  over  which 
it  is  compelled  to  travel. 

Feet  round,  with  toes  arched  and  well  split  up;  pads 
round,  firm,  and  elastic. 

Hind  legs  muscular,  with  clean  hocks  placed  near  the 
ground,  as  in  the  Bulldog. 

Tail  tapering  from  the  root,  and  carried  as  that  of  a 
Pointer;  this  must  be  well  spotted. 

Color  and  markings.— Well  spotted  all  over  with  either 
black  or  liver-colored  spots;  these  should  not  intermingle, 
and  should  be  of  the  size  of  from  a  dime  and  not  to  exceed 


THE   DALMATIAN   DOG. 


613 


a  silver  half-dollar — the  larger  spots  being  on  the  body  and 
the  smaller  on  the  ears,  tail,  and  legs. 

Goat  is  close,  short,  and  fine. 

General  appearance  is  that  of  a  strong,  muscular  dog, 
capable  of  enduring  considerable  fatigue,  and  possessing 
a  fair  amount  of  speed. 


THE  POODLE. 


BY  W.  R.  FUKNESS. 


FEW  years  ago,  if  you  told  a  "doggy  man,  " either 
in  this  country  or  England,  that  he  owned  a  Poodle 
he  repudiated  the  charge  immediately,  and  felt 
deeply  insulted,  as  these  dogs  were  deemed  fit  only 
for  the  circus  or  for  mountebanks.  Now,  I  am  happy  to 
say,  these  truly  noble  dogs  have  become  better  known,  and 
their  real  sterling  qualities  are  beginning  to  be  appreciated. 
The  origin  of  the  Poodle  is  not  known,  though  he  cer- 
tainly belongs  to  the  Spaniel  family;  and  his  special  char- 
acteristics have  been  developed  by  climate  and  the  particu- 
lar uses  for  which  he  has  been  required.  There  is,  however, 
little  doubt  that  he  is,  comparatively  speaking,  a  modern 
dog. 

The  first  mention  of  him  is  by  Conrad  Gessner,  in  1555; 
and  Doctor  Fitzinger,  in  "  Der  Hund  und  Seine  Racen," 
says  (I  quote  from  "The  Poodle,"  by  " Wildfowler,"  in 
Stonehenge' s  ' 4  Dogs  of  the  British  Islands ' ' )  that  der  grosse 
Pudel  originated  in  the  northwest  of  Africa,  probably  in 
Morocco  or  Algeria,  and  that  the  origin  of  the  "  Schnur 
Pudel,"  or  corded  Poodle,  has  been  "a  matter  of  discussion 
among  savants,"  some  saying  that  he  came  from  Spain  or 
Portugal,  others  that  he  came  from  Greece.  But  from 
these  two  dogs,  if  they  were  originally  distinct,  came  all 
our  modern  classes  of  Poodles,  of  which  there  are  four — 
the  Russian  Poodle,  the  German  Poodle,  the  French  Poo- 
dle, or  Caniche,  and  the  Barbet. 

Mephistopheles  first  appeared  to  Faust  in  the  form  of  a 
black  Poodle,  and  Littre,  in  his  Dictionnaire  Frangaise, 
says  that  the  dogs  of  Ulysses  were  Barbets,  though  by 
this  lie  probably  meant  dogs  from  Barbary,  like  our  large 

(615) 


616  THE  AMERICAN   BOOK   OF   THE   DOG. 

Poodles,  and  not  the  little  woolly  dogs  which  now  go  by 
that  name. 

Of  the  four  varieties  of  Poodles,  the  largest  is  the  Russian, 
which  is  quite  rare  both  in  this  country  and  England.  The 
usual  color  is  black,  but  they  are  sometimes  white,  or  black 
and  white.  They  are  rather  leggy  dogs;  the  head  long  and 
wedge-shaped,  with  very  little  stop.  The  eyes,  in  the  best 
specimens,  dark-red,  but  many  otherwise  good  dogs  have 
yellowish  eyes.  The  ears  are  set  on  rather  high,  and  lie 
close  to  the  cheeks.  The  legs  are  straight  and  muscular. 
The  feet  rather  splayed,  and  webbed  half-way  down  the 
toes.  The  coat  is  long,  coarse,  and  almost  wiry,  showing 
little  inclination  to  curl,  and  none  at  all  to  cord,  like  that  of 
the  German  Poodle.  This,  I  think,  probably  comes  from 
some  admixture  of  Russian  Setter  blood.  These  dogs  are 
bold,  hardy,  and  excessively  courageous,  but  inclined  to  be 
too  excitable  and  intolerant  of  restraint  in  the  field. 

The  German  Poodle,  which  is  really  the  type  of  the 
family,  is  a  powerful,  compactly  built  dog,  with  a  deep, 
narrow  brisket,  in  shape  not  unlike  that  of  the  Greyhound; 
a  strong  loin,  slightly  arched,  with  a  good  square  back; 
powerful  hind  quarters  to  propel  him  through  the  water, 
for  the  Poodle  is  almost  an  amphibian;  round  and  com- 
pact feet,  with  the  toes  webbed  all  the  way  to  the  nail. 
The  head  is  wedge-shaped,  like  that  of  the  Russian  Poodle, 
but  shows  more  stop  and  more  cheeks;  is  very  broad,  and 
almost  flat  between  the  ears,  giving  the  dog  great  brain 
capacity,  with  the  "  sense-bump, "  or  occiput,  strongly 
marked.  The  eyes  should  be  rather  small,  placed  far  apart, 
and  should  show  the  greatest  intelligence  and  sprightliness. 
A  stupid  expression  in  a  Poodle  should,  in  my  opinion,  con- 
demn him  at  once. 

The  ears  should  be  long  and  pendulous,  set  rather  low 
on  the  skull,  the  leather  reaching  to  the  tip  of  the  nose 
when  stretched  out,  but  hanging  along  the  neck  when  the 
head  is  erect.  The  lips  should  be  close  and  thin,  barely 
covering  the  incisors.  The  nose,  in  black  specimens,  should 
be  coal-black;  in  white  ones,  a  dark,  pinkish  brown.  The 


THE   POODLE. 


617 


neck  should  be  bony,  muscular,  and  so  set  into  the  long, 
sloping  shoulders  as  to  enable  the  dog  when  swimming  to 
carry  whatever  he  is  retrieving  well  above  the  water;  and 
it  is  really  astonishing  how  heavy  a  weight  a  Poodle  can 
carry  without  any  apparent  inconvenience. 

There  is  a  peculiar  suppleness  in  the  Poodle's  back 
when  he  is  either  swimming  or  running,  and  which  gives 
him  the  appearance  of  being  able  to  flex  his  spine  more 


CORDED    POODLE-PIERROT. 
Owned  by  Miss  Anna  P.   Stevenson,   Philadelphia,   Penn. 

than  any  other  dog  that  I  know  of.  Whether  or  not  it  is 
this  which  gives  him  his  extraordinary  power  in  the  water 
I  can  not  say,  but  he  certainly  excels  all  his  race  in  that 
element,  at  least,  being  able  to  distance  the  strongest  Water 
Spaniel  and  swim  round  and  round  a  Newfoundland. 

In  nose  the  German  Poodle  almost  rivals  the  Blood- 
hound, and  so  keen  is  his  power  of  scent  that  he  can  trail 
his  master  through  the  most  crowded  street,  or  retrieve  a 
wounded  bird,  no  matter  how  cleverly  it  may  hide. 

In  color  the  'German  Poodle  is  black,  white,  black  and 
white,  and  occasionally  liver- colored,  though  the  last,  to 


618  THE  AMERICAN   BOOK   OF  THE   DOG. 

\ 

my  mind,  should  always  be  looked  upon  with  suspicion  as 
showing  a  strain  of  Spaniel  blood.  In  black  dogs  the  eyes 
should  be  a  dark,  rich  red,  and  in  white  ones  a  dark-brown. 
In  Germany,  where  these  dogs  are  kept  solely  for  use,  color 
is  not  deemed  of  such  consequence,  but  in  this  country  and 
England  solid  black  or  white  are  considered  absolutely 
essential.  A  few  years  ago,  black  was  by  far  the  rarer  color, 
but  lately,  since  black  Poodles  have  become  fashionable, 
many  more  of  them  are  seen,  though,  if  a  thorough  exam- 
ination be  made,  it  will  be  found  that  at  least  fifty  per  cent, 
have  either  a  white  star  on  the  breast,  a  white  lower  lip,  or 
a  white  toe  or  two. 

In  coat  the  German  Poodle  differs  from  every  other  dog, 
inasmuch  as  the  hairs  should  felt,  or  "cord,"  to  use  the 
technical  term,  in  long  strings,  slightly  knotty  and  wavy, 
and  of  about  the  thickness  of  a  crow-quill,  though  they 
are  often  seen  much  thicker;  but  this  is  due  to  lack  of  care 
when  the  coat  is  growing. 

The  entire  coat,  from  the  base  of  the  skull  to  the  root  of 
the  tail,  should  divide  evenly  down  the  back,  showing  a 
clearly  defined  parting,  and  should  touch  the  ground,  com- 
pletely hiding  the  fore  legs  and  feet,  and  thus,  combined 
with  the  cords  from  the  throat  and  chest,  give  the  dog  the 
appearance  of  being  in  petticoats. 

Whether  or  not  this  enormous  amount  of  coat  is  all 
composed  of  living  hair  I  have  never  been  able  to  satisfac- 
torily determine,  but  I  strongly  suspect  that  where  we  see 
extraordinarily  long  and  closely  felted  cords  (and  I  have 
seen  one  dog  who,  though  only  eighteen  inches  in  height, 
had  cords  on  his  shoulders  twenty-one  inches  long)  the 
greater  portion  of  them  is  old  and  dead  coat,  especially  as 
toward  spring  many  cords  show  a  disposition  to  become 
attenuated  at  about  one  inch  from  the  root,  and  to  come 
away  with  a  slight  pull,  causing  the  dog  no  pain,  which 
certainly  would  not  be  the  case  if  the  hair  were  alive. 

So  decided  is  the  tendency  of  the  German  Poodle's  coat 
to  cord,  that  even  if  you  should  comb  it  out  (an  almost 
impossible  task),  with  a  few  hearty  shakes  it  divides  up 


THE   POODLE.  619 

into  separate  locks,  and  in  a  few  days  is  so  felted  as  to 
almost  defy  the  comb  again. 

The  coat  should  cord  all  over  the  body,  except  in  the 
eyebrows,  mustache,  and  imperial,  which  should  be  straight, 
even  without  wave,  and  of  a  glossier  texture  than  the  rest 
of  the  coat.  The  cords  on  the  ears  should  reach  far  down 
on  the  shoulders,  and  so  mingle  with  those  of  the  neck  as 
to  render  the  ears  nearly  indistinguishable.  On  the  head 
the  cords  should  all  fall  away  from  the  center,  leaving  a 
well-defined  crown,  and  should  have  no  tendency  to  stand 
erect,  like  those  of  a  Water  Spaniel. 

The  tail,  which  is  usually  docked,  should  be  perfectly 
straight,  and  carried  at  an  angle  of  about  seventy  degrees 
with  the  back.  Many  Poodles  have  curled  tails,  and  an 
otherwise  good  dog  should  not  be  debarred  for  that  fault. 
I  once  had  an  excellent  dog  whose  tail  had  not  been  cut, 
and  it  curled  as  tight  as  that  of  any  Pug.  By  cutting 
his  tail  and  giving  it  careful  attention,  he  acquired  an 
excellent  carriage,  and  a  great  improvement  in  appearance, 
much  to  my  satisfaction,  if  not  to  his. 

In  Germany,  where  these  are  almost  the  only  retrievers 
used,  it  is  customary,  in  summer,  to  cut  off  the  coat,  for 
the  greater  comfort  of  the  dog,  leaving  the  hair  on  the 
head,  breast,  and  feet  only,  for  the  protection  of  these  deli- 
cate parts,  and  from  this  custom  has  arisen  the  present 
fashion  of  shaving  Poodles;  and  to  such  an  extent  has  this 
been  carried,  that  in  most  shows  the  artistic  shaving  of  a 
Poodle  is  not  without  weight  with  the  judges;  and  though 
the  straps  and  tufts  of  hair  seem,  at  first  sight,  to  be  merely 
the  vagaries  of  fashion,  yet,  on  closer  examination,  it  will 
be  seen  that  they  all  have  their  uses,  and  add  considerably 
to  the  symmetry  of  the  animal  in  emphasizing  curves  and 
suppressing  angles;  and  certainly  the  rakish  mustache 
and  imperial,  combined  with  the  venerable  eyebrows  and 
intelligent  eyes  of  a  well-shaved  Poodle,  give  to  his  face  a 
quaint  air.  I  give,  on  following  page,  a  diagram  for  shaving 
a  Poodle  in  the  style  generally  adopted  in  England,  and 
which  is  best  adapted  to  showing  off  the  dog  to  the  greatest 


620 


THE   AMERICAN   BOOK    OF  THE   DOG. 


advantage.  Many  people  allow  the  cords  of  the  straps  and 
tufts  to  grow  to  their  full  capacity,  but  this  is,  I  think,  a 
mistake.  They  should  be  cut  about  two  and  a  half  inches 
in  length,  and  kept  combed  as  far  as  is  possible,  to  make 
them  stand  out  more  clearly,  and  also  to  show  the  texture  of 


DIAGRAM   FOR   CLIPPING    POODLE. 

the  coat;  the  shoulders,  breast,  and  ears  should  show  its 
cording  qualities  quite  well  enough. 

The  French  Poodle,  or  "Caniche"  (derived  from  the 
word  canard— a  duck),  was,  and  is  still  in  some  districts  of 
France,  the  only  ducking  dog  or  retriever  used,  and  is 
most  admirably  adapted  to  that  work,  as  his  courage  and 
sagacity  prompt  him  to  brave  all  sorts  of  weather,  and  his 
thick,  woolly  coat,  by  retaining  air,  buoys  him  up  and  re  tains 


THE   POODLE.  621 

animal  heat  when  he  is  in  the  water.  In  most  respects,  he 
is  like  the  German  Poodle,  though  generally  a  smaller  and 
more  slightly  built  dog  than  his  Teutonic  cousin.  The 
colors  of  Caniches  are  the  same  as  those  of  the  German 
Poodle,  and  solid  colors  are  deemed  absolutely  essential  for 
a  good  dog. 

The  skull  should  show  a  well-defined  stop,  very  broad 
across  the  ears,  and  with  a  pronounced  dome.  The  eyes 
should  be  larger  in  proportion  than  in  the  German  Poodle; 
should  be  of  a  clear  dark-red  in  black  dogs,  of  a  dark-brown 
in  white  specimens,  and  without  any  inclination  to  weep. 

The  ears  should  be  set  on  rather  high,  the  leather  sel- 
dom reaching  to  the  tip  of  the  nose.  The  neck  should  be 
moderately  long,  and  the  shoulders  rather  upright,  the 
barrel  well  ribbed  up,  with  strong  arched  loins.  The  feet 
should  be  round,  slightly  splayed,  with  the  toes  webbed 
down  to  the  nails. 

The  legs  should  be  long  and  muscular;  the  hind  ones 
are  usually  rather  straighter  than  those  of  the  German 
Poodle,  thereby  giving  the  dog  a  proud,  though  rather 
stilty,  action  when  walking. 

The  coat,  all  over  the  body,  should  separate  into  tightly 
curled  ringlets,  but  with  no  tendency  to  cord. 

In  France  it  is  not  customary  to  shave  Poodles  as  elab- 
orately as  is  done  in  England,  and  the  majority  of  Caniches 
that  you  see  have  only  the  mustache,  imperial,  wristlets, 
and  anklets,  with  perhaps  a  back-strap  and  tufts.  They 
are  also  shaved  much  higher  up  the  body,  nearly  to  the 
shoulder,  while  German  Poodles  are  never  shaved  farther 
forward  than  the  last  rib. 

For  many  years  the  Poodle  has  been  the  national  dog  of 
France,  and  no  cartoonist  would  think  of  drawing  a  picture  of 
"  Johnny  Crapeau"  without  his  Caniche  sitting  on  its  hind 
legs  beside  him;  and  indeed  it  is  this  dog's  innate  love  of 
fun  and  drollery,  in  contrast  to  his  very  wise  and  dignified 
expression,  that  particularly  endears  him  to  a  Frenchman's 
heart. 

The  Barbet  is,  or  should  be,  a  miniature  Caniche,  though 


622  THE  AMERICAN   BOOK   OF   THE   DOG. 

the  head  is  always  larger  in  proportion  and  is  inclined  to  be 
too  round.  The  ears  are  long,  pendulous,  and  should  reach 
to  the  tip  of  the  nose.  The  color  should  be  white,  though 
many  good  dogs  are  seen  with  fawn  markings,  especially  on 
the  ears  and  back.  The  legs  are  strong,  well  set  under  the 
body,  with  the  hind  ones,  as  in  the  Caniche,  a  little  too 
straight  for  real  beauty. 

The  body  should  be  strong  and  well  ribbed  up,  giving 
the  dog  a  firm,  cobby  appearance.  A  long,  weak  loin  is  a 
great  blemish.  The  tail  is  long,  slightly  curled,  and  usually 
docked.  The  eyes  should  be  large,  full,  and  nearly  per- 
fectly black,  and  should  show  very  little  inclination  to  weep. 
The  coat  should,  as  in  the  Caniche,  show  light  ringlets,  but 
at  the  same  time  should  be  somewhat  fluffier,  with  a 
beautifully  white  and  glossy  appearance.  As  weight  is  of 
great  importance  in  Barbets,  a  good  dog  should  not  exceed 
six  and  one-half  pounds,  and  as  much  less  as  is  compatible 
with  a  good  shape,  and  should  not  stand  much  over  eight 
inches  at  the  shoulder. 

These  dogs  are  of  course  utterly  useless  as  sporting 
dogs,  but  show  a  remarkable  aptitude  for  learning  tricks, 
and  have  extraordinary  strength  and  agility  for  such  frail- 
looking  little  creatures. 

Their  tempers  are  apt  to  be  a  little  uncertain;  for 
though  they  are  nearly  all  docile  to  their  master  or  mis- 
tress, they  are  prone  to  be  snappish  to  strangers,  and,  like  all 
small  dogs,  to  have  a  great  idea  of  their  own  importance. 
If  it  were  not  for  these  traits,  they  would  be  an  almost  per- 
fect lady's  lap-dog. 

Barbets  are  usually  shaved  like  Caniches,  and  the  tail  is 
generally  docked. 

Poodles,  no  matter  of  what  variety,  are  quite  difficult 
dogs  to  rear,  and  he  may  esteem  himself  lucky  who  has 
two-thirds  of  his  puppies  reach  maturity,  for  they  seem,  on 
the  slightest  provocation,  to  contract  every  ill  that  dog-flesh 
is  heir  to.  In  the  first  place,  great  care  should  be  taken  in 
*  selecting  the  sire  and  dam,  and  the  pedigrees  of  both  ascer- 
tained as  fully  as  possible,  for  the  modern  Poodle,  like 


THE   POODLE.  623 

most  of  our  manufactured  dogs,  if  I  may  be  allowed  that 
expression,  has  a  great  tendency  to  breed  back;  and  indeed, 
in  nine  cases  out  of  ten,  it  is  but  a  waste  of  time  and 
money  to  get  a  Poodle  dog  and  bitch  of  unknown  gene- 
alogy and  expect  to  get  good  puppies.  The  faults  are  usu- 
ally in  the  coat,  which  is  either  too  flat  or  too  woolly;  or 
in  the  head,  which  is  either  too  coarse  or  too  snipy. 

But  supposing  we  have  a  thorough-bred  dog  and  bitch, 
our  troubles  are  only  just  beginning.  In  the  first  place, 
while  the  bitch  is  in  whelp  she  should  be  allowed  perfect 
liberty,  as  nearly  as  possible,  and  this  I  regard  as  almost 
essential.  She  should  have  a  clean,  dry  bed  of  pine 
shavings  or  straw,  away  from  other  dogs  and  such  disturb- 
ing causes,  and  should  have  a  plentiful  supply  of  good, 
nourishing  food;  though,  unless  the  weather  is  cold,  but 
a  small  amount  of  meat,  and  that  raw,  or  at  least  very  rare. 

Her  coat  may  be  brushed  and  corded  as  usual,  but  while 
she  is  in  whelp  I  would  not  advise  shaving.  A  tolerably 
long  coat  will  be  more  comfortable  for  her  and  for  the 
puppies,  especially  if  the  weather  be  at  all  cold.  As  her 
time  approaches,  be  sure  that  she  is  satisfied  with  her  quar- 
ters, for  if  she  is  not,  when  the  little  strangers  appear  she 
will  try  to  carry  them  elsewhere,  and  if  not  allowed  to  do 
so,  will  fret,  lose  her  milk,  neglect  her  puppies,  and  so  cause 
them  to  die. 

After  the  litter  is  born,  the  bitch  will  need  but  little 
attention  for  about  an  hour,  by  which  time  she  will  have 
cleaned  her  little  family  and  will  have  time  to  think  about 
herself.  Let  her  have  a  pan  of  water,  not  too  cold,  and 
then,  if  she  will  take  it,  a  little  oatmeal  gruel  and  milk; 
place  it  far  enough  from  her  nest  to  make  her  leave  her 
puppies,  but  not  so  far  as  to  make  her  feel  anxious  about 
them.  After  an  interval  of  about  five  hours,  or  even  less, 
give  her  some  more  gruel,  with  perhaps  a  little  bread  and 
gravy,  or  some  such  nourishing  food. 

Now  for  the  first  time  examine  the  puppies;  harden  your 
heart,  and  decide  which  are  to  be  given  to  the  bucket  and 
which  to  the  world.  Remember  that  you  stand  more 


624  THE   AMERICAN   BOOK   OF  THE   DOG. 

chance  of  getting  four  good  dogs  if  you  leave  but  five  with 
her  than  if  you  leave  eight. 

From  this  time  until  the  puppies  are  weaned,  feed  her 
plentifully;  three  times  a  day  is  none  too  often.  Remem- 
ber you  are  feeding  many  mouths,  and  very  greedy  ones  at 
that.  After  about  six  weeks  take  her  away  from  the 
puppies,  but  do  not  move  them,  as  any  change  is  likely  to 
give  them  cold;  and  allow  her  to  be  with  them  for  an  hour 
or  so  each  day,  to  draw  off  what  milk  she  may  have  left,  and 
that  she  may  clean  and  care  for  her  family. 

When  the  puppies  are  eight  weeks  old,  they  may  have  a 
run  in  the  open  air,  of  about  an  hour,  each  clear  day;  and 
even  at  this  early  age  they  had  better  make  the  acquaintance 
of  the  clippers.  Shave  their  feet,  because  if  they  get  them 
wet  they  dry  more  readily  if  the  long  hair  is  cut  off,  and 
so  avoid  colds  or  distemper;  shave  also  their  faces,  as,  in 
my  opinion,  it  strengthens  their  eyes  and  keeps  them  from 
weeping. 

From  this  time  on  no  particular  treatment  is  necessary. 
Keep  them  dry  and  clean,  with  a  plentiful  supply  of  food, 
but  give  them  no  milk  that  has  not  first  been  boiled,  on 
account  of  worms,  to  which  parasites  these  dogs  seem 
peculiarly  susceptible. 

When  about  five  months  old,  if  it  be  summer,  give  them 
their  first  entire  clipping,  and  cord  and  brush  their  coats  as 
best  you  can,  but  do  not  be  discouraged  if  they  do  not 
seem  to  cord  as  they  should;  that  will  come  later,  and 
indeed  but  few  Poodles  attain  a  really  good  coat  until  two 
years  old. 

Pay  particular  attention  that  the  coat  does  not  felt  into 
thick  wads  along  the  brisket  and  under  the  ears.  If  these 
are  found,  they  should  be  carefully  pulled  apart,  beginning 
next  the  skin,  and  separated  into  cords  of  the  proper  size 
(about  one-fifth  of  an  inch  in  diameter),  and  twirled 
between  the  finger  and  thumb  until  they  lie  apart. 

Go  over  the  entire  coat,  and  you  will  probably  find  many 
locks  composed  of  two  or  three  cords  joined  together 
throughout  the  greater  part  of  their  length,  but  with  the 


THE   POODLE.  625 

ends  separate.  Seize  these  ends,  and  with  a  firm  pull 
divide  them  down  to  the  skin;  but  never  cut  them  apart,  as 
that  tends  to  kill  the  hair  and  make  it  turn  of  a  rusty 
color.  After  going  over  the  coat  thoroughly  (and  on  your 
thoroughness  in  this  particular  depends  its  future  quality), 
rub  in  the  following  mixture:  One  part  kerosene,  one  part 
olive-oil,  one  part  castor-oil.  Hand-rub  until  nearly  all 
greasiness  disappears;  use  a  brush  sparingly,  always  rub- 
bing or  brushing  with  the  hair;  comb  out  the  mustache 
and  imperial;  rub  with  a  stiff  brush  all  the  shaved  part,  to 
remove  scurf  or  dandruff,  and  your  Poodle  is,  or  should  be, 
in  pretty  good  condition. 

In  fitting  Poodles  for  the  bench,  many  breeders  first  clip 
them  and  then  shave  them  with  a  razor.  To  my  mind,  this 
practice  is  to  be  deprecated.  In  the  first  place,  it  is  pain- 
ful to  the  dog,  and  no  matter  how  skillful  he  may  be,  the 
operator  is  likely  to  take  out  a  few  "  nicks,"  especially  on 
the  face,  where  the  skin  is  most  wrinkled;  and  in  the  second 
place,  it  not  only  does  not  add  to  the  beauty  of  the  dog,  but 
conceals  an  important  point  in  his  coat,  viz.,  the  close  wave, 
which  should  be  seen  a  few  days  after  clipping  on  the  back 
of  a  first-class  Poodle,  giving  it  the  appearance  of  watered 
silk.  For  my  part,  if  I  were  going  to  show  a  really  first- 
class  dog,  I  would  rather  clip  him  as  close  as  possible  three 
days  before  he  was  to  appear  before  the  judges,  and  take 
my  chances  against  an  equally  good  dog  that  had  been 
shaved  the  day  before. 

Great  care  should  be  taken  in  keeping  a  Poodle  free 
from  fleas,  as  he  does  terrible  damage  to  his  peculiar 
knotted  coat  by  constant  scratching,  and  also  by  the  con- 
stant irritation  induces  surfeit  or  some  other  skin  disease, 
which  is  exceedingly  difficult  to  cure  in  a  Poodle,  on  account 
of  the  difficulty  of  applying  any  wash  directly  to  the  skin. 

If  you  notice  that  your  dog  seems  restless  and  is  con- 
stantly scratching  or  biting  himself,  get  a  gallon  of  "  sheep- 
dip,"  which  can  be  bought  from  most  fanciers,  dilute  it 
with  fifteen  gallons  of  water,  bathe  the  dog  thoroughly  in 
this  mixture,  allow  it  to  remain  on  for  three  days,  then 

40 


THE  AMERICAN   BOOK   OF   THE  DOG. 

wash  clean,  using  very  little  soap,  and  you  may  reasonably 
hope  for  a  cure. 

Poodles  are  also  subject  to  canker  in  the  ear.  For  this 
the  best  advice  I  can  give,  I  think,  is  that  you  go  at  once 
to  the  best  veterinary  surgeon  that  you  can  find;  but  do 
not  attempt  any  experiments  yourself  further  than  putting 
a  cap  on  the  dog  so  that  he  can  not  scratch  the  cords  off 
his  ear,  or  by  constant  shaking  of  his  head  bring  on 
external  canker,  which  is  difficult  to  cure. 

These  two  ailments,  surfeit  and  canker,  are  the  ones 
from  which  Poodles  are  most  liable  to  suffer,  and  both  may 
be  avoided  by  ordinary  care  as  regards  diet  and  cleanliness; 
for  though  difficult  to  rear,  when  he  has  once  reached 
maturity  there  is  no  dog  so  healthy  or  hardy  as  a  Poodle. 
He  is  also,  in  my  opinion,  more  susceptible  of  education 
than  any  other  member  of  his  race,  seeming  to  have  an 
innate  love  for  tricks,  and  needing  only  to  understand  what 
you  wish  to  do  it  immediately,  and  then  enjoy  the  fun  of  it 
as  much  as  you  do. 

Yet,  notwithstanding  his  wonderful  intelligence,  the 
greatest  patience  is  required  in  teaching  each  new  trick. 
Remember  that  he  is  even  more  anxious  to  understand  you 
than  you  are  to  make  him  comprehend  what  you  wish,  and 
that  a  word  of  encouragement  or  a  friendly  pat  on  the 
head  goes  ten  times  as  far  as  a  scolding  or  a  blow.  At  the 
same  time,  bear  in  mind  that  the  greatest  firmness  is 
required,  for  if  the  dog  for  a  moment  suspects  that  your 
whole  heart  and  soul  are  not  in  the  matter,  he  at  once 
thinks  it  must  be  of  small  consequence  and  loses  all  inter- 
est in  it  forthwith. 

Make  him  think  you  are  both  doing  something  for 
mutual  amusement,  and  he  will  respond  and  do  everything 
in  his  power  to  follow  out  your  wishes,  provided  he  is 
already  firmly  attached  to  you;  and  in  this  lies  the  secret 
of  success  or  failure  in  all  training;  for  as  he  can  not  under- 
stand your  language,  he  must  know  by  heart  all  your  gest- 
ures and  intonations.  Eemember  what  a  very  wide  space 
divides  us  from  even  the  most  intelligent  dog,  and  as  he  is 


THE   POODLE.  627 

our  servant  we  force  him  to  study  us  much  more  than  we 
study  him,  and  to  make  his  lower  intellect  travel  over  more 
than  half  that  wide  space,  and  even  then  not  get  credit  for 
having  done  much,  and  after  all  to  be  made  to  feel  that  if  he 
has  misinterpreted  a  word  or  a  sign  he  has  disappointed  the 
one  creature  in  the  world  that  he  most  wished  to  please. 

Another  important  point  in  training  a  Poodle  is,  on 
account  of  his  inquisitive  and  excitable  temperament,  to 
have  him  amidst  familiar  surroundings  and  without  any 
exciting  causes.  Most  professional  dog-trainers,  I  believe, 
give  their  pupils  lessons  at  two  or  three  A.  M.  only,  as  at 
that  time  greater  stillness  reigns;  but  this  I  do  not  think  is 
absolutely  essential,  and  need  not  be  followed  out  by  the 
amateur,  who  does  not  require  such  a  high  degree  of  pro- 
liciency  as  does  the  professional. 

Though,  as  a  rule,  other  dogs  should  not  be  present 
when  a  pupil  is  learning  a  new  trick,  an  old  dog  who  already 
knows  it  is  often  useful  as  an  interpreter,  and  seems  to  be 
able  to  communicate  our  wishes  to  the  poor  perplexed 
pupil. 

And  finally,  never  attempt  to  teach  two  tricks  a£  once, 
unless  you  wish  to  see  an  utterly  bewildered  and  unhappy- 
looking  dog.  It  is  an  intelligent  dog  that  can  learn  one 
trick  a  day  and  know  all  his  tricks  thoroughly,  and  the 
average  dog  can  not  master  over  two  or  three  a  week;  but 
each  trick  learned  makes  the  next  one  easier,  as  we  get  more 
and  more  en  rapport  with  our  eager,  intelligent  little  serv- 
ant, the  Poodle. 

Appended  is  the  comparative  scale  for  judging  Poodles: 

Value.  Value. 

Skull ; 10    Tail 10 

Ears 10    Color 15 

Legs  and  feet 15    Symmetry 15 

Coat 20 

Eyes 5  Total 100 

[There  are  but  few  breeders  of  Poodles  in  this  country.  Among  these 
the  following  are  noted :  L.  E.  Wilmerding,  32  East  Thirty-ninth  street,  New 
York  City;  Prescott  Lawrence,  196  Madison  avenue,  New  York  City;  W.  C. 
Sanford,  Amsterdam,  K  Y.;  George  S.  Mott,  Babylon,  Long  Island,  N.  Y.; 


628 


THE  AMERICAN   BOOK   OF  THE   DOG. 


Robert  McKinley,  49  West  Eighteenth  street,  New  York  City,  A.  W.  Pur- 
beck,  Box  344,  Salem,  Mass.;  C.  A.  Baldwin,  Union  Club,  New  York  City;  G» 
W.  Fairchild,  421  West  Fifty-seventh  street,  New  York  City;  F.  E.  Perkins, 
Providence,  R.  I.;  C.  F.  Leland,  7  Beck  Hall,  Cambridge,  Mass.;  T.  M.  Alley, 
1240  Wilcox  avenue,  Chicago,  111.;  C.  E.  Hill,  514  Rialto  Building,  Chicago, 
111.;  L.  Biddle,  Philadelphia,  Penn.;  Dr.  Samuel  G.  Dixon,  Fifty-eighth  street 
and  Elmwood  avenue,  Philadelphia,  Penn. ;  William  Reiring,  10  Cook  street, 
Cincinnati,  Ohio.— ED.] 


THE  ITALIAN  GKEYHOUND. 


BY  G.  IRWIN  ROYCE,  M.  D. 


^ISTORY  has  not  told  us  with  any  degree  of  certainty 
when  or  where  this  delicate,  sensitive,  and  graceful 
little  animal  originated,  but  it  is  safe  to  conclude 
that  it  had  the  same  origin  as  the  other  types  of  the 
Greyhound  family;  that  by  careful  breeding,  and  no  doubt 
by  considerable  inbreeding,  it  has  been  reduced  to  its  pres- 
ent size  and  form ;  and  from  the  name  we  may  reasonably 
infer  that  it  has  long  been  known  as  a  native  of  Italy.  It 
is  also  plentiful  in  Southern  France  and  in  other  countries 
where  the  climate  is  always  mild  and  equable. 

The  Italian  Greyhound  was  taken  to  England  about  the 
time  of  Charles  I.,  at  least  this  is  as  far  back  as  any 
account  is  given  of  their  being  seen  in  that  country,  and 
since  their  introduction  there  they  have  been  bred  down  to 
finer  and  more  perfect  models,  more  nearly  resembling  in 
conformation  the  larger  type  of  Greyhound;  still  they  have 
always  been  the  same  delicate,  graceful  creature  that  we 
see  them  to-day;  and  they  have  ever  been  the  favorites 
of  the  nobility  in  nearly  all  parts  of  Europe  where  they 
can  survive.  We  read  of  them  as  the  pets  of  the  Mon- 
tagues and  the  Capulets,  and  even  in  our  own  day  some  of 
the  best  specimens  extant  have  been  in  the  possession  of 
Her  Majesty  the  Queen  of  England. 

Poets  have  immortalized  this  dog  in  verse,  and  Land- 
seer,  Paul  Veronese,  and  others  of  the  old  masters  have 
employed  their  brushes  to  faithfully  chronicle  his  exquisite 
formation  and  graceful  outlines.  Comparing  the  more 
modern  form  of  the  Italian  Greyhound  with  pictures  of 
the  older  specimens,  we  see  but  slight  variation  between  the 
various  models;  in  fact,  the  Italian  is  but  a  miniature 

(629) 


630  THE   AMERICAN    BOOK    OF   THE   DOG. 

English  Greyhound  in  most  of  his  points  of  beauty,  with 
rather  larger  and  more  languishing  eyes,  and  a  more  deli- 
cate color  to  his  coat.  These  latter  excellencies  no  doubt 
contribute  largely  to  their  popularity,  and  have  been  instru- 
mental in  making  them  the  pets  of  royalty  and  the  inmates 
of  chateaus  and  palaces. 

There  has  probably  been  less  change  in  their  general 
formation  than  that  of  any  other  variety  of  the  canine  race, 
and  still  in  but  rare  instances  has  anything  like  the  correct 
type  been  produced,  the  noted  Molly,  owned  by  Mr.  W. 
McDonald,  of  Winchmore  Hill,  Middlesex,  England,  hav- 
ing been  nearer  perfection  than  any  other  Italian  ever 
brought  to  public  notice.  She  was  small,  of  a  delicate  dove- 
color,  especially  good  in  head,  and  all  judges  under  whose 
observation  she  came  pronounced  her  nearly  perfect. 

There  have  been  but  few  fanciers  in  this  country  who 
have  given  attention  to  breeding  this  toy  dog,  and  conse- 
quently at  the  present  time  few  good  specimens  are  seen  at 
our  bench  shows.  Only  now  and  then  is  one  seen  in  this 
country  that  at  all  approaches  the  standard  of  the  breed; 
but  I  see  a  gradual  tendency  toward  substituting  the 
Italian  for  the  Pug  and  other  toy  varieties,  and  in  the  near 
future  we  may  look  for  a  vast  improvement  in  these  pets.* 

They  are  grace  itself,  and  their  beauty,  their  loving  dis- 
position, delicate  sensitiveness,  and  scrupulous  cleanliness 
make  them  an  ornament  and  a  delight  to  any  household. 
Occasionally  they  have  been  utilized  in  the  field  for  cours- 
ing hares,  but  with  poor  success,  for  having  so  long  been 
confined  to  the  parlor  the  hunting  instinct  has  lain  dormant, 


*  The  following  are  among  the  best-known  breeders  and  exhibitors  of 
Italian  Greyhounds  in  this  country:  Miss  Edith  M.  Van  Buren,  Box  240 
Englewood,  N.  J.;  Mrs.  E.  C.  Moore,  New  Rochelle,  N.  Y.;  Mrs.  H.  T.  Foote, 
Box  231,  New  Rochelle,  N.  Y.;  Mrs.  L.  D.  Kurd,  43  West  Thirty-ninth  street, 
New  York  City;  J.  F.  Ives,  108  Madison  street,  Chicago,  111. ;  Mrs.  C.  E.  Allen, 
4519  Woodlawn  avenue,  Chicago,  111.;  Joe  Lewis,  Cannonsburg,  Penn  ;  Dr.  A. 
J.  Miles,  5  Chester  Block,  Mount  Auburn,  Cincinnati,  Ohio;  J.  Engleghart,  99 
West  Sixth  street,  Cincinnati,  Ohio;  Charles  L.  Bird,  Third  and  Main  streets, 
Cincinnati,  Ohio;  J.  A.  Armleader,  68  East  Fourth  street,  Cincinnati,  Ohio. 
—ED. 


THE   ITALIAN   GREYHOUND.  631 

and  should  the  average  Italian  Greyhound  be  shown  a  hare, 
a  rat,  or  other  vermin,  he  would  undoubtedly  show  fear 
rather  than  a  desire  to  kill. 

Now  and  then  one  may  be  seen  with  courage  enough  to 
stand  for  his  rights,  and  may  be  so  pugnacious  as  to  dis- 
pute your  right  of  entrance  to  the  house.  Two  good  speci- 
mens that  have  been  under  my  observation  for  several 
years  will  destroy  the  largest  rat  with  all  the  skill  and 
eagerness  of  a  Terrier,  and  I  can  see  no  reason  why  the 
breed  should  not  serve  a  useful  purpose  in  this  direction; 
but  it  will  require  considerable  care  in  breeding  and  train- 
ing to  overcome  the  natural  timidity  and  extreme  sensitive- 
ness that  they  possess  in  such  a  marked  degree. 

Those  bred  in  England  and  in  this  country  have  only 
been  used  as  pets  and  lap-dogs,  but  in  Italy  they  have  been 
put  to  more  practical  use,  and  there  they  show  more  cour- 
age, gameness,  and  better  staying  qualities. 

Where  the  questionable  sport  of  box- coursing  with 
small  rabbits  has  been  indulged  in,  the  Italian  Greyhound 
has  been  crossed  out  with  the  Fox  Terrier  and  the  Bull 
Terrier,  with  the  object  of  increasing  the  speed  of  the  Ter- 
rier and  adding  to  the  gameness  of  the  Italian. 

The  cross  produces  a  very  useful  little  dog,  with  a  strong 
inclination  toward  the  form  of  the  Terrier,  and  such  dogs 
have  been  found  useful  in  coursing  hares. 

The  Italian  has  also  been  crossed  with  the  Black  and  Tan 
Terrier,  with  a  view  to  softening  and  refining  the  latter,  and 
the  experiment  has  been  attended  with  considerable  suc- 
cess, but  it  is  necessary  to  breed  back  to  the  Terrier  the 
second  time  to  fully  establish  the  color  and  restore  the 
formation  to  the  standard  for  that  breed. 

I  can  see  but  little  to  be  gained  by  outcrossing  with  the 
English  Greyhound,  as  only  a  small  specimen  of  the  Grey- 
hound would  be  the  result,  and  this  would  be  neither  orna- 
mental nor  useful,  and  there  could  scarcely  be  any  gain  in 
either  formation  or  disposition. 

But  the  position  that  they  should  occupy  in  the  canine 
world  is  that  of  a  lap-dog  or  parlor  pet.  Here  they  are  in 


632  THE  AMERICAN   BOOK   OF   THE   DOG. 

their  true  element,  and  one  can  lavish  on  them  all  the 
affection  that  he  may  desire,  and  it  will  be  reciprocated 
with  as  nearly  human  love  as  can  be  expected  in  any  one 
of  the  domestic  animals.  They  are  as  loving  as  a  dove,  and 
delicate  enough  in  their  manifestations  of  affection  to  sat- 
isfy the  most  sensitive  and  refined  lady.  They  are  harm- 
less, amiable,  and  ornamental,  and  their  elegant  attitudes 
arid  delicate  shades  of  color  can  but  please  the  most  fas- 
tidious. 

They  are  never  happier  or  more  contented  than  when 
curled  up  in  the  lap  of  a  loving  mistress,  feeling  the  gentle 
caress  and  enjoying  the  natural  warmth  and  magnetism  of 
the  human  body. 

During  the  warm  weather  they  enjoy  a  romp  on  the 
lawn,  but  it  is  usually  of  short  duration,  and  the  appear- 
ance of  a  rude  boy  or  a  large  strange  dog  will  be  the  signal 
for  a  sudden  disappearance,  and  they  hie  away  to  a  place  of 
safety. 

Being  naturally  of  a  delicate  constitution  and  with  a  very 
thin  skin,  the  Italian  is  sensitive  to  sudden  changes  of  tem- 
perature, even  in  summer,  and  at  the  approach  of  autumn 
they  show  that  "pinched-up"  look  that  is  so  character- 
istic, of  a  cold  dog.  Should  they  be  exposed  to  cold 
and  dampness  combined  for  any  length  of  time,  they 
would  likely  contract  so  severe  a  disease  as  to  carry  them 
off  in  a  short  time.  The  tendency  would  be  toward  some 
form  of  lung  disease.  They  should  therefore  be  care- 
fully guarded  against  severe  changes,  and  when  taken  out 
should  be  warmly  clothed  with  a  neat  blanket;  but  should 
they  contract  any  disease,  the  utmost'  care  should  be  exer- 
cised *in  administering  treatment,  for  remember  they  are 
like  a  frail  infant.  The  medicine  given  should  be  scrupu- 
lously reduced  to  minimum  doses,  and  only  the  milder 
preparations  should  be  used  in  treating  any  skin  eruption 
with  which  they  may  be  afflicted.  Other  portions  of  this 
work  will  give  full  directions  for  treating  diseases  of  the  dog, 
but  I  wish  to  especially  enjoin  care  in  the  matter  of  dose, 
for  even  the  physician  is  not  always  careful  enough  in 


THE   ITALIAN    GREYHOUND.  633 

graduating  the  prescription  to  the  more  delicately  organ- 
ized human  being.  The  Italian  should  have,  in  formation, 
the  same  points  of  excellence  as  the  English  Greyhound, 
with  little  or  no  variation  from  the  fixed  standard;  but  the 
special  fanciers  of  this  variety  of  the  species  allow  consid- 
erable margin  in  some  few  points,  as  in  the  form  of  the 
head,  the  greater  fullness  of  the  eye  often  giving  them  that 
"dish-faced"  appearance  that  greatly  detracts  from  the 
beauty  of  a  large  Greyhound. 

Their  tails  are  inclined  to  be  shorter  in  proportion  to 
the  size  of  the  body,  their  ears  larger,  and  much  allowance 
is  made  for  the  lack  of  muscle;  but  by  judicious  and  careful 
breeding  these  points  can  be  wholly  overcome,  and  a 
specimen  that  will,  in  truth,  be  a  miniature  English  Grey- 
hound will  reward  the  efforts  of  the  fancier. 

However,  in  too  many  instances,  instead  of  breeding  to 
produce  a  perfect  Italian  Greyhound,  the  money  value  only 
has  been  considered,  and  little  effort  has  been  made  in  this 
country  to  build  up  a  reliable  strain  of  this  breed.  My  first 
experience  in  trying  to  secure  one  of  the  Italians  was  so 
unfortunate  that  it  put  a  damper  on  my  enthusiasm  which 
took  some  years  to  overcome.  I  sent  to  a  breeder  in  one  of 
the  Western  States  for  a  female,  and  after  receiving  several 
very  enthusiastic  letters  concluded  to  order  one.  When 
the  little  creature  came,  to  keep  her  company  the  party 
sent  along  a  changed  dog  weighing  somewhere  about  twelve 
pounds,  on  chance  of  my  taking  him  too. 

I  received  them  of  the  express  company,  paying,  I  remem- 
ber, a  rather  long  price  for  the  immense  box  in  which  they 
were  shipped,  took  them  home  in  the  evening  to  the  sub- 
urbs of  the  city  in  which  I  then  resided,  opened  the  box  with 
all  confidence  that  they  would  come  to  me  to  be  fondled; 
but  what  was  my  astonishment  to  find  them  as  wild  as  a 
coyote.  They  would  scarcely  come  near  the  house,  and  for 
two  weeks  were  like  wild  dogs,  staying  in  the  woods  and 
fields  at  a  good  safe  distance  from  any  residence. 

They  were  finally  captured  in  a  large  trap,  by  a  neigh- 
bor, after  two  days  of  careful  watching,  he  being  especially 


634  THE   AMERICAN   BOOK    OF   THE   DOG. 

stimulated  by  a  reward  of  live  dollars  that  I  offered. 
They  were  once  more  tamed,  and  after  a  time  I  gave  them 
away,  as  the  female  was  practically  valueless  as  a  breeder, 
and  the  dog  wholly  so,  of  course.  Both  were  very  poor 
specimens  of  the  breed. 

I  have  since  purchased  six  of  different  breeders,  but 
only  two  out  of  the  lot  were  at  all  suitable  for  breeding 
purposes,  and  I  have  been  led  to  conclude  that  there  are  no 
really  scientific  breeders  that  are  giving  attention  to  the 
Italian  Greyhound.  If  there  is  one,  I  have  not  been 
fortunate  enough  to  learn  the  fact. 

There  are  several  grand  good  specimens  scattered  about, 
but  they  are  owned  by  individuals  who  have  them  simply 
for  their  own  pleasure,  as  in  the  case  of  Peach,  who  is 
owned  by  Mr.  Hanson,  of  Topeka,  Kan.  She  is  a  fine 
specimen,  and  no  money  consideration  would  tempt  him  to 
part  with  her. 

Peach  weighs  about  seven  and  one-half  pounds,  is  of 
a  rich,  golden  fawn-color,  and  is  quite  symmetrical  through- 
out. She  would  undoubtedly  win  on  the  bench  in  com- 
pany with  the  best  of  them. 

The  standard  and  points  of  judging  an  Italian  Grey- 
hound are  as  follows  : 

Value.  Value. 

Head 5    Tail 5 

Neck 5    Coat 5 

Ears  and  eyes 5    Color ... 15 

Legs  and  feet 10    Symmetry 15 

Fore  quarters 10    Size , 15 

Hind  quarters 10  

Total 100 

The  head  (value  5),  if  possible,  should  be  as  snake-like  as 
that  of  the  English  Greyhound,  but  such  formation  is  now 
never  met  with.  The  nearer  it  approaches  it  the  better. 
In  all  recent  exhibits  the  skull  is  more  or  less  round,  and 
the  face,  though  still  pointed,  is  too  short,  with  a  tendency 
to  turn  up. 

The  neck  (value  5)  is  long  and  elegant,  resembling  closely 
its  larger  congener. 

Ears  and  eyes  (value  5). — Many  modern  prize-takers  are 


THE  ITALIAN   GREYHOUND.  635 

deficient  in  the  proper  shape  of  the  ear;  but  this  should  not 
be  overlooked,  for  it  still  exists  in  the  breed  as  an  exact 
counterpart  of  the  English  Greyhound's  corresponding- 
organ,  though  always  somewhat  enlarged  in  comparison 
with  the  body.  The  eye  is  much  larger  proportionately, 
soft  and  languishing;  but  it  ought  never  to  weep.  The 
color  of  the  iris  is  usually  a  dark-brown. 

Legs  and  feet  (value  10). — See  the  Greyhound. 

Fore  quarters  (value  10). — See  the  Greyhound. 

Hind  quarters  (value  10). — As  with  the  last  two  sections, 
the  only  difference  lies  in  comparative  value,  the  English 
dog' s  points  being  estimated  from  the  workman-like  view, 
while  the  Italian  is  regarded  from  an  artistic  stand-point. 

The  tail  (value  5)  is  somewhat  shorter  than  the  English 
dog's;  but  it  must  be  gently  curved  in  the  same  tobacco- 
pipe  way,  and  should  be  fine  in  bone  except  at  the  root,  as 
well  as  free  from  hair. 

The  coat  (value  5)  should  be  short,  soft,  and  silky. 

The  color  (value  15)  of  the  Italian  Greyhound  is  largely 
to  be  taken  into  consideration,  and  is  consequently  esti- 
mated at  a  high  figure.  Fawns  are  now  far  in  the  ascend- 
ant, and  to  no  other  color  would  the  full  value  be  accorded. 
A  small  star  on  the  breast  or  a  white  toe  takes  off  a  point 
or  two,  according  to  the  extent  of  white,  but  in  all  cases 
the  toe-nails  should  be  dark. 

The  symmetry  (value  15)  of  this  little  dog  must  be  care- 
fully estimated,  as  a  want  of  elegance  in  detail,  or  of  com- 
bination in  due  proportion,  alike  lowers  the  value  of  these 
points  separately  to  a  very  low  ebb. 

The  size  (value  15)  of  the  bitch  for  modern  successful 
exhibition  should  be  little  over  five  pounds,  nor  should 
the  dog  exceed  seven  or  seven  and  one-half  pounds. 
Beyond  these  weights  a  specimen,  however  good  in  other 
respects,  has  little  or  no  chance  of  a  first  prize  in  anything 
like  a  good  class. 

The  Italian  Greyhound  is  not  a  prolific  breeder,  and  but 
few  of  the  females  are  strong  enough  to  nourish  a  large 
litter.  To  balance  this,  not  more  than  three  or  four  are 


THE  AMERICAN    BOOK   OF   THE   DOG. 

usually  produced  in  a  litter,  though  occasionally  there  may 
be  six;  but  should  this  occur,  a  foster-mother  will  have  to 
be  secured,  or  hand-raising  resorted  to,  in  order  to  save 
those  that  the  delicate  mother  is  not  able  to  nourish.  It  is 
therefore  wise  to  provide  for  such  an  emergency,  that  the 
whole  litter  may  be  saved,  for  generally  the  smaller  and 
more  desirable  ones  would  succumb  first  to  lack  of  care. 

The  food  most  suitable  for  the  Italian,  .at  all  times,  is 
table-scraps.  These  should  be  carefully  prepared  by  mix- 
ing bread,  cooked  meat,  and  potatoes  with  a  little  gravy, 
milk,  or  the  like.  If  too  much  meat  is  given,  they  are  apt  to 
contract  skin  disease,  which  is  quite  difficult  to  overcome. 
"But  he  won't  eat  anything  but  meat,"  you  may  say. 
That  may  be  so  now,  but  by  reducing  the  quantity  and 
gradually  mixing  other  articles  with  the  meat,  you  can 
bring  about  a  radical  change,  even  in  the  case  of  an  old  dog. 
Begin  with  the  puppy,  and  you  can  mold  his  taste  to  your 
liking. 

The  Italian  must  have  plain  food  and  a  certain  amount 
of  vegetable  matter,  and  all  should  be  free  from  pepper, 
mustard,  and  acids.  You  should  vary  the  diet  more  or 
less,  giving  different  articles  of  food  every  few  days. 

Preparation  for  the  bench  show  is  simple  enough,  but  a 
few  suggestions  may  not  be  amiss.  Be  especially  careful 
not  to  have  the  dog  too  fat.  This  is  a  common  fault,  and 
can  be  overcome  by  reducing  the  diet  and  giving  plenty  of 
vigorous  exercise;  but  they  should  be  round  and  smooth, 
with  coats  glossy,  the  bony  frame-work  showing  the  least 
bit,  and  with  as  much  muscle  as  can  be  developed  conven- 
iently. As,  however,  they  are  not  designed  for  field-work, 
muscle  is  not  so  important.  They  need  not  be  washed  very 
frequently,  as  their  cleanly  habits  will  obviate  the  necessity 
for  this;  but  rubbing  with  a  damp  cloth,  followed  by  a  vig- 
orous application  of  a  dry  flannel  and  the  dry  hand,  will 
serve  the  purpose  much  better.  The  rubbing  will  also 
serve  to  develop  the  muscles.  Get  the  dog  accustomed  to 
the  ways  of  the  street  and  to  strangers,  and  your  task  is 
finished. 


THE   ITALIAN   GREYHOUND.  637 

The  principles  of  breeding  will  undoubtedly  be  thor- 
oughly treated  of  in  other  portions  of  the  work,  but  there 
seems  to  be  so  little  heed  given  to  the  careful  directions 
for  improving  the  different  varieties  of  the  domestic  ani- 
mals, that  repetition  becomes  fairly  a  necessity. 

In  selecting  a  mate  for  an  Italian  Greyhound,  the  first 
consideration  should  be  to  overcome  any  defects  that  may 
exist,  and  at  the  same  time  to  preserve  in  the  offspring  the 
good  qualities  that  either  or  both  parents  may  possess.  Of 
course  a  dog  nearly  perfect  is  desired,  if  it  be  possible  to 
secure  such,  but  you  can  at  least  get  a  mate  that  is  strong 
and  fine  where  yours  may  be  deficient.  If  your  dog  has  a 
bad  head,  get  a  mate  with  a  specially  good  head.  If  his 
tail  is  too  short,  see  that  the  mate  has  a  good  long  tail. 

In  some  of  the  young  you  will  be  sure  to  combine  the 
good  qualities  of  both  parents.  Keep  such,  and  still  try 
and  go  on  to  perfection.  The  greatest  care  should  be  exer- 
cised lest  some  of  the  most  valuable  puppies  be  lost.  Re- 
serve the  best  always.  Select  carefully  and  nick  properly 
should  be  the  motto  in  breeding. 

The  Greyhound  family  is  deservedly  popular,  and  as  the 
larger  varieties  are  brought  into  favorable  notice  through 
their  valuable  qualities  as  coursers,  I  hope  to  see  their 
more  elegant  but  feebler  relatives,  modestly  and  timidly 
though  they  may,  share  in  the  general  popularity  of  these 
aristocratic  dogs. 


THE  PUG. 


BY  GEORGE  W.  FISHER. 


>HE  true  origin  of  this  peculiar  breed  of  dogs  is  un- 
known. Some  naturalists  believe  that  the  Pug  and 
the  Mastiff  are  closely  related.  Indeed,  the  close 
resemblance  between  the  two  breeds  gives  the  theory  con- 
siderable force.  Other  naturalists  infer  that  a  dwarf  Mas- 
tiff may  possibly  have  been  mated  with  a  Bulldog,  and  that 
they  were  the  parents  of  the  first  Pug.  The  latter  theory  has 
certainly  a  great  deal  in  its  favor,  for  the  reason  that  so  many 
of  the  Pugs  have  the  rose  ear,  are  undershot,  out  at  elbows, 
and  some  have  black  breasts  with  white  legs  and  feet,  all 
characteristics  of  the  Bulldog.  The  latest  theory  is  that  the 
Pug  is  the  result  of  a  cross  between  the  Bulldog  and  the 
Japanese  Spaniel.  To  my  mind,  the  Pug  shows  no  evidence 
of  such  a  cross,  either  in  shape,  color,  or  disposition.  The 
first  Pugs  were  doubtless  bred  in  England,  but  further  than 
this  it  is  doubtful  if  the  true  origin  of  the  breed  will  ever 
be  known. 

We  know  that  everything,  whether  animate  or  inani- 
mate, is  of  some  particular  utility  and  has  some  purpose  to 
serve,  and  so  the  Pug,  whatever  his  origin,  doubtless  is  here 
for  a  purpose.  While  perhaps  he  is  of  no  value  as  a  hunter, 
yet  his  gentle  disposition  and  good  temper  render  him 
invaluable  as  a  companion  for  children  and  as  a  pet  for  the 
fair  sex;  indeed,  it  seems  that  his  special  mission  is  to  be  a 
companion  to  the  little  ones.  His  chief  delight  and  pleas- 
ure is  to  frolic  and  romp  with  them.  They  may  pull,  bite, 
and  whip  him  with  impunity,  and  he  never  resents  their 
assaults.  He  has  never  been  known  to  go  mad  or  to  become 
ill-tempered,  as  do  many  other  dogs  when  they  grow  old. 
As  for  cleanliness,  he  is  unequaled.  He  can  repose  on  silk 

(639) 


640  THE  AMERICAN   BOOK   OF  THE   DOG. 

or  satin  without  leaving  behind  him  that  disagreeable  smell 
so  common  to  dogs  of  other  breeds.  He  can  also  be  utilized 
to  a  certain  extent  as  a  watch-dog;  he  is  a  close  observer, 
and  scarcely  anything  escapes  his  watchful  eye. 

One  characteristic  of  the  Pug  which  seems  to  command 
attention  everywhere  is  his  aristocratic  nature.  His  dig- 
nified carriage  and  haughty  manner  are  proofs  of  his  aris- 
tocracy, besides  the  fact  that  he  is  owned  and  caressed  by 
the  kings  and  queens,  the  lords  and  ladies,  and  by  people 
of  every  class,  who  endeavor  to  possess  him  on  account  of 
his  affectionate,  lovable,  and  intelligent  nature.  Another 
characteristic  is  that  he  bears  confinement  in  the  house  bet- 
ter than  almost  any  other  breed.  It  can  also  be  said  that 
he  is  the  only  sweet-skinned  animal  in  the  whole  canine 
race,  and  this  fact,  combined  with  his  smooth,  glossy  coat, 
makes  him  a  desirable  pet  for  the  carriage  and  drawing- 
room. 

Mr.  Morrison,  a  prominent  English  fancier,  took  more 
pains  in  cultivating  this  breed,  in  his  day,  than  any  other 
breeder;  yet  Lord  Willoughby  d'Eresby  claims  a  strain 
from  a  totally  different  source.  The  Morrison  Pug  is  of  a 
yellow  fawn-color,  with  a  distinct  trace  from  occiput  to 
tail,  while  the  Willoughby  is  a  stone-fawn  with  a  black 
saddle. 

There  is  no  breed  that  has  been  bred  more  carefully  and 
that  has  been  improved  so  much  in  the  last  ten  years  as  has 
the  Pug.  The  long  legged  and  muzzled  Pug  is  now 
replaced  by  the  handsome  little  cobby  fellow  of  an  entirely 
different  type. 

I  am  perfectly  safe  in  saying  that  the  Pug  requires  more 
care  in  breeding  than  does  any  other  breed.  There  are  so 
many  difficult  points  to  perfect  and  overcome,  and  such  a 
strong  tendency  in  the  breed  to  revert  from  approved  types, 
that  the  greatest  care  and  watchfulness  are  necessary  to 
prevent  this.  The  most  important  point  of  all  is  to  first 
select  a  good  sire.  Get  the  best  that  is  obtainable.  Be 
careful  that  he  possesses  the  essential  points,  such  as  hered- 
itary transmission  of  character  and  disposition.  This  is 


THE   PUG. 


641 


one  of  nature's  most  important  laws.  Strains  are  only 
properly  sustained  in  their  purity  by  breeding  to  the  best 
stock  that  can  be  had. 

In  selecting  a  sire,  never  breed  to  a  long-legged  one; 
limit  his  weight  to  fifteen  pounds,  if  possible.  It  is  much 
easier  to  find  a  good  large  Pug  than  a  good  small  one. 


CHAMPION    DUDE. 
Bred  by  Dr.   M.  H.  Cryer,   1527  Arch  street,   Philadelphia,  Penn. 

The  bitch  usually  comes  in  season  when  eight  months 
old,  and  after  she  has  attained  that  age  generally  comes  in 
season  twice  a  year. 

As  soon  as  she  gives  evidence  of  coming  in  season, 
remove  her  to  a  warm  room  on  the  second  or  third  floor. 
If  possible,  give  her  a  companion,  either  a  playful  puppy 

41 


642  THE  AMERICAN   BOOK   OF   THE   DOG. 

or  an  old  bitch.  This  will  keep  her  from  fretting,  and  will 
keep  her  in  good  cheer  and  humor  during  her  confinement. 
The  confinement  usually  lasts  about  twenty-one  days,  and 
a  cheerful  companion  doubtless  adds  to  the  number  of 
her  puppies. 

The  bitch  should  be  bred  on  the  twelfth  day  after  the 
first  signs  are  given.  One  service  is  sufficient,  and  more 
than  two  should  never  be  given.  These  should  be  twenty- 
four  hours  apart.  She  should  whelp  in  sixty  to  sixty-three 
days. 

During  her  pregnancy  the  breeder  should  take  particular 
care  to  give  the  bitch  a  sufficient  amount  of  exercise.  The 
more  she  is  left  in  the  open  air  the*  better  it  will  be  for  her 
and  her  offspring.  There  is  no  definite  way  of  ascertaining, 
until  twenty-one  days  have  passed,  whether  or  not  she  is  in 
whelp.  About  ten  days  before  she  is  due  to  whelp,  rid 
her  of  fleas,  if  she  has  them,  by  an  application  of  insect 
powder. 

I  consider  a  well-tanned  sheep-skin,  with  the  wool  on, 
the  best  bed  for  a  bitch  to  whelp  on.  Care  must  be  taken 
to  have  it  well  tacked  in  a  tight  box.  The  puppies  will  be 
born,  one  after  another,  at  intervals  of  a  quarter  to  three, 
quarters  of  an  hour.  During  this  time  allow  nothing  what- 
ever to  disturb  her.  Keep  her  warm  and  quiet,  and  as 
soon  as  she  is  through  remove  her  and  puppies  to  clean, 
dry  quarters.  Restrict  her  food,  for  the  first  ten  days,  to 
sweet  milk,  boiled  rice,  oatmeal,  and  meat-broth.  After 
that  time  has  elapsed  she  may  be  fed  on  any  kind  of  suita- 
ble food.  She  should  be  allowed  free  access  to  open  air  and 
yard  for  exercise,  etc. 

Puppies  should  be  taken  from  the  bitch  when  five  weeks 
old.  The  important  process  of  rearing  Pug  puppies  should 
begin  when  they  are  three  weeks  old.  They  should  be  taken 
separately  and  placed  to  a  dish  containing  two-thirds  milk 
and  one-third  warm  water,  adding  a  little  sugar;  by  touch- 
ing their  lips  to  the  mixture  they  will  instinctively  begin  to 
lap  it  with  an  apparent  appreciation.  This  process  should 
be  continued  three  times  a  day  for  the  space  of  ten  days, 


THE   PUG.  643 

and  at  the  expiration  of  that  time  they  can  be  given  pure 
milk,  and  meat-broth  thickened  with  wheat-bread,  boiled 
rice,  and  oatmeal.  They  should  frequently  be  given  bones 
to  gnaw  at,  which  exercise  acts  admirably  as  a  tooth-brush. 

A  careful  effort  should  be  made  to  avoid  overloading 
their  stomachs.  Never  allow  food  to  remain  in  their  dishes. 
When  they  have  attained  the  age  of  six  or  seven  weeks, 
they  are  old  enough  to  sell;  at  this  time  it  is  also  well  to 
rid  them  of  worms.  This  can  be  accomplished  by  giving 
each  puppy  ten  grains  of  kamalia  on  an  empty  stomach. 
This  will  expel  all  worms  in  three  hours,  without  any 
danger  to  the  dog.  In  three  days  repeat  the  dose.  This 
precaution  has  saved  many  a  puppy  for  me. 

To  prepare  the  Pug  for  the  show  bench,  he  should  be 
washed  once  a  week  with  pure  castile  soap,  and  should 
be  groomed  every  day  with  a  soft  brush.  It  will  add 
greatly  to  his  appearance  to  rub  his  coat  freely  with  the 
hands.  His  food  should  consist  of  boiled  meat,  rice,  and 
oatmeal.  By  adding  a  table-spoonful  of  ground  flax-seed 
and  a  raw  egg  twice  a  week,  a  marvelous  effect  will  be 
produced  on  his  coat,  and  it  will  at  the  same  time  regulate 
his  bowels.  Let  it  be  remembered  that  outdoor  exercise  is 
as  essential  as  good  food. 

The  Pug  is,  of  course,  subject  to  the  same  diseases  as 
other  dogs,  and  their  symptoms  are  the  same.  The  follow- 
ing remedies  I  have  prescribed  and  used  in  my  kennel  with 
great  success: 

For  worms. — Give  ten  grains  of  kamalia  on  empty  storn. 
ach;  repeat  in  three  days.  This  will  expel  pin,  tape,  and 
stomach  worms  without  danger. 

For  fits. — If  caused  by  worms,  give  the  kamalia  as  above. 
If  caused  by  teeth  or  distemper,  give  twenty  grains  of  bro- 
mide potash  every  three  hours. 

For  distemper. — Take  saltpeter,  sixty  grains;  sulphur, 
sixty  grains;  aloes,  twenty  grains.  Mix  and  put  in  twelve 
powders.  Give  one  powder  once  a  day.  Avoid  giving 
open-air  exercise.  Keep  them  in  a  separate  room  at  a  tem- 
perature of  about  sixty  degrees. 


644  THE   AMERICAN   BOOK    OF   THE   DOG. 

Tonic. — For  loss  of  appetite  or  to  tone  up  the  system, 
after  distemper  or  other  disease,  take  quinine,  twelve 
grains;  extract  gentian,  twelve  grains;  extract  nux  vomica, 
one  grain.  Mix  and  make  in  twelve  pills.  Give  one  pill 
morning  and  evening. 

Mange. — Take  sulphur,  two  ounces;  saltpeter,  one-half 
ounce;  cosmoline,  four  ounces.  Mix  and  apply  to  parts 
affected  by  rubbing  well.  Wash  it  off  in  twenty-four 
hours,  then  cover  the  dog  completely  with  coal-oil,  and 
allow  it  to  remain  on  for  twelve  hours;  then  wash  him  with 
castile  soap.  Repeat  in  five  days  if  not  thoroughly  cured. 

THE   STANDARD. 

Vaftie.  Value. 

Symmetry 10    Mask 5 

Size 5    Wrinkles 5 

Condition 5    Tail 5 

Body 10    Trace 5 

Legs  . , , , 5    Coat 5 

Feet 5    Color 5 

Head 5    General  carriage 5 

Muzzle 5 

Ears 5            Total 100 

Eyes 10 

ACKNOWLEDGED   POINTS. 

Symmetry. — Symmetry  and  general  appearance,  decid- 
edly square  and  cobby.  A  lean,  leggy  Pug  and  a  dog 
with  short  legs  and  a  long  body  are  equally  objectionable. 

Size  and  condition. — The  Pug  should  be  multum  inparvo, 
but  this  condensation  (if  the  word  may  be  used)  should  be 
shown  by  compactness  of  form,  well-knit  proportions,  and 
hardness  of  developed  muscle.  Weight  to  be  from  thirteen 
to  seventeen  pounds  (dog  or  bitch). 

Body. — Short  and  cobby,  wide  in  chest,  and  well  ribbed 
up. 

Legs. — Very  strong,  straight,  of  moderate  length,  and 
well  under. 

Feet. — Neither  so  long  as  the  foot  of  the  hare,  nor  so 
round  as  that  of  a  cat;  well-split-up  toes,  and  the  nails 
black. 

Muzzle.— Short,  blunt,  square,  but  not  up-faced. 


THE  PUG.  645 

Head. — Large,  massive,  round — not  apple-headed — with 
no  indentation  of  the  skull. 

Eyes.  —  Dark  in  color,  very  large,  bold,  and  prominent, 
globular  in  shape,  soft  and  solicitous  in  expression,  very 
lustrous,  and,  when  excited,  full  of  fire. 

Ears. — Thin,  small,  soft,  like  black  velvet.  There  are 
two  kinds,  the  urose"  and  "button."  Preference  is  given 
to  the  latter. 

Markings. — Clearly  defined.  The  muzzle  or  mask,  ears, 
moles  on  cheeks;  thumb-mark,  or  diamond  on  forehead; 
back-trace  should  be  as  black  as  possible. 

Mask. — The  mask  should  be  black.  The  more  intense 
and  well-defined  it  is  the  better. 

Wrinkles. — Large  and  deep. 

Trace. — A  black  line  extending  from  the  occiput  to  the 
tail. 

Tail. — Curled  tightly  as  possible  over  the  hip.  The 
double  curl  is  perfection. 

Coat. — Fine,  smooth,  soft,  short,  glossy,  neither  hard 
nor  woolly. 

@olor. — Silver  or  apricot  fawn.  Each  should  be  decided, 
to  make  the  contrast  complete  between  the  color  and  the 
trace  and  mask. 

Among  the  many  breeders  of  good  Pugs  in  this  country, 
we  may  mention  the  following  :  Dr.  M.  H.  Cryer,  1527  Arch 
street,  Philadelphia,  Penn.;  George  W.  Fisher,  Catawissa, 
Penn.;  A.  E.  Pitts,  Columbus,  Ohio;  Eberhart  Pug  Ken- 
nels, 212  Main  street,  Cincinnati,  Ohio;  J.  H.  Boden,  296 
West  Twelfth  street,  New  York  City;  C.  W.  Boger,  1939 
Camac  street,  Philadelphia,  Penn.;  Miss  L.  Linden,  214 
West  Forty-fifth  street,  New  York  City;  Acme  Kennels,  413 
Chestnut  street,  Milwaukee,  Wis. ;  J.  J.  Lynn,  Port  Huron, 
Mich  ;  Miss  M.  E.  Bannister,  Cranford,  N.  J. ;  Mrs.  Charles 
Wheatleigh,  129  East  Sixteenth  street,  New  York  City; 
Mrs.  S.  C.  Barnum,  329  Lexington  avenue,  New  York  City; 
E.  D.  Bruce,  Seventeenth  street  and  Broadway,  New  York 
City;  Mrs.  M.  A.  Cunningham,  412  West  Forty-fifth  street, 
New  York  City;  R.  Schreyer,  365  First  avenue,  New  York 


646  THE   AMERICAN    BOOK    OF   THE   DOG. 

City;  C.  E.  Osborn,  Stepney,  Conn.;  Mrs.  J.  F.  Campbell, 
Custom  House,  Montreal,  Canada;  Miss  J.  A.  Yard,  2  West 
Forty- third  street,  New  York  City;  Roger  Harrison,  84 
Cherry  street,  New  York  City ;  L.  A.  Readasell,  158  Gay 
street,  Baltimore,  Md. ;  G.  W.  Wambach,  2  North  Liberty 
street,  Baltimore,  Md. ;  William  J.  Bryson,  204  Dearborn 
street,  Chicago;  Miss  A.  B.  Vanhorn,  180  Penn  avenue, 
Allegheny,  Penn.;  J.  A.  Lawrence,  263  East  Broad  street, 
Columbus,  Ohio;  L.  S.  Hudson,  Lansing,  Mich.;  A.  F. 
German,  Louisville,  Ky.;  Mrs.  J.  Smith,  7  McLean  Court, 
Boston,  Mass.;  Miss  A.  H.  Whitney,  Lancaster,  Mass.; 
W.  A.  Peck,  New  Haven,  Conn.;  E.  E.  Parnell,  Spencer, 
Iowa;  Dr.  S.  Plant,  18  Travers  street,  Boston,  Mass.;  Miss 
Grace  M.  Hall,  Portland,  Maine;  R.  T.  Harrison,  84  Cherry 
street,  New  York  City;  Seminole  Kennels,  Chestnut  Hill, 
Philadelphia,  Penn. ;  George  H.  Hardy,  10  Coleman  street, 
Cincinnati,  Ohio;  R.  T.  Prout,  Newark,  Ohio;  J.  C.  Nims, 
Plainesville,  Ohio. 


THE  MEXICAN  HAIRLESS  DOG. 


BY  ELROY  FOOTE. 


UT  little  is  known  as  to  the  origin  of  this  breed,  or 
as  to  its  history  since  that  period,  and  the  literature 
of  the  subject  seems  to  be  comprised  in  the  follow- 
ing few  references.  G.  R.  Jesse,  in  his  l '  Researches 

into  the  History  of  the  British  Bog,"  referring  to  the  dogs 

of  Buenos  Ayres,  says: 

There  are  also  small  dogs  without  hair,  except  on  the  head  and  tail, 
which  are  shagged ;  they  are  often  companions  of  the  ladies  of  the  country. 

In  his  work  on  "The  Dog,"  Youatt  calls  attention  to 
the  vast  difference  between  dogs  of  the  same  general  type, 
as  illustrated  in  the  members  of  the  Greyhound  family  by 
the  Highland,  English,  and  Italian  Greyhound,  and  the 
"  small  hairless  one  of  Africa  or  Brazil."  Again,  in  the 
same  work,  we  read  that  ' '  the  Turkish  Greyhound  is  a 
small-sized  hairless  dog,  or  with  only  a  few  hairs  on  his 
tail;  never  used  in  the  field,  and  bred  only  as  a  spoiled 
pet." 

Stonehenge  quotes  almost  verbally  from  Youatt  on  the 
same  subject. 

Vero  Shaw,  in  his  fine  work  "The  Book  of  the  Dog," 
in  the  chapter  on  the  "Rampur  Dog,"  says: 

This  dog,  we  believe,  made  his  first  appearance  in  England  on  the  return 
of  H.  R.  H.  the  Prince  of  Wales  from  his  Indian  tour.  At  all  events,  we 
have  no  recollection  of  having  seen  any  specimens  of  the  Rampur  Hound  at 
our  dog  shows,  except  at  the  Fakenham  Dog  Show  of  1876.  Only  two 
appeared;  one  was  of  a  mouse-color,  the  other  spotted,  a  sort  of  pink  aud 
blue,  somewhat  similar  to  young  plum-pudding-colored  pigs.  In  appearance, 
the  Rampur  Dog  somewhat  resembles  a  small  Deerhound,  but  his  chief  char- 
acteristic is  the  absence  of  hair,  which  leaves  his  body  smooth.  We  have, 
however,  been  informed  that  since  they  have  been  in  this  country  a  little  hair 
has  appeared  upon  these  dogs. 

(647) 


648  THE  AMERICAN   BOOK   OF  THE   BOG. 

Shaw  also  quotes  Mr.  W.  K.  Taunton,  describing  the 
Chinese  Crested  Dog,  so  called  from  having  a  crest  of  hair 
running  along  the  top  of  the  head  from  front  to  back.  In 
addition  to  this,  the  dog  has  a  tuft  of  hair  at  the  end  of  his 
tail,  but  otherwise,  with  the  exception  of  a  few  scattering 
hairs  around  the  head  and  muzzle  and  just  above  the  feet, 
the  dog  is  perfectly  hairless,  the  skin  being  more  or  less 
mottled  in  some  specimens.  There  is  another  hairless  dog, 
said  to  come  from  China,  considerably  smaller  than  the  breed 
mentioned  above,  weighing  about  eight  or  ten  pounds,  and 
without  any  hair  at  all.  The  head  is  like  the  apple-headed 
Toy  Terrier,  with  large  bat-ears  standing  out  from  the 
head,  a  very  fine  tail,  and  the  skin  of  a  uniform  dark 
color. 

Here  we  have  several  different  names  for  apparently  the 
same  kind  of  dog;  for,  although  referred  to  as  being  native 
in  Africa,  Brazil,  Buenos  Ay  res,  Turkey,  India,  and  China, 
and  being,  as  we  know,  also  found  in  Mexico  and  Southern 
California,  I  believe  they  will  be  met  in  all  warm  climates. 
Whether  these  various  strains  of  hairless  dogs  found  in 
the  various  hot  climates  are  of  a  common  origin,  whether 
they  have  been  distributed  from  some  one  country  to  the 
others,  or  whether  they  are  the  result  of  the  so-called  law  of 
evolution,  we  can  only  conjecture.  Whether  in  some  quar- 
ter of  the  globe  a  breed  of  dogs  has  always  existed 
none  of  which  ever  had  hair,  because  they  did  not  need 
it,  or  whether  they  were  once  clothed  with  hair,  which 
gradually  disappeared  because  they  did  not  need  it,  who 
can  say  ?  If  a  strain  of  Pugs  or  Fox  Terriers  were  colonized 
in  Central  Africa  and  bred  there  for  twenty-five,  fifty,  or  a 
hundred  years,  would  their  hair  gradually  disappear?  Such 
a  supposition  seems  scarcely  plausible,  since  the  wild  dogs 
of  India,  many  of  whom  live  almost  under  the  equator,  are 
thickly  coated  with  hair,  as  are  nearly  all  other  quadrupeds 
in  hot  countries.  Why,  then,  should  one  breed  of  small 
dogs  exist  in  so  many  parts  of  the  world  entirely  or  nearly 
hairless?  Will  some  Darwin,  some  Tyndall,  or  some  Huxley 
kindly  investigate  and  give  us  the  why  and  the  wherefore? 


THE   MEXICAN   HAIRLESS   DOG.  649 

Whether  hairless  dogs  are  crested  or  plain  hairless,  of 
uniform  mouse-color,  or  plum-pudding  color,  as  our  Eng- 
lish writer  picturesquely  styles  them,  or  whether  they 
have  slate  or  pink  points,  as  I  once  saw  described,  it  seems 
reasonable  to  suppose  them  all  of  the  same  breed  and  of 
the  same  origin,  inasmuch  as  the  smooth  and  the  rough 


MEXICAN    HAIRLESS   DOG— ME   TOO.* 
Owned  by  Elroy  Foote,    120  Lexington    avenue,   New  York  City. 

coated  Fox  Terrier  are  of  the  same  breed.  Which  is  the 
truer  type  I  am  not  prepared  to  say,  but  I  will  unhesitat- 
ingly state  my  preference  for  the  dark,  smooth,  and  strictly 
hairless  dog  as  against  the  mottled  and  unfinished  effect 
of  the  so-called  crested  dog. 

*  Winnings:  First  and  special,  New  Haven,  1884;  first,  New  York,  1884; 
first,  Philadelphia,  1884;  first  and  special,  New  Haven,  1885;  first,  Boston, 
1885;  first.  New  York,  1885;  first,  Philadelphia,  1885. 


650  THE   AMERICAN   BOOK    OF   THE   DOG. 

That  the  former  is  much  the  rarer  style  I  know  to  my 
sorrow,  for  in  breeding  from  as  good  hairless  stock  as  could 
be  found,  three  out  of  four  puppies  would  exhibit  the 
unsightly  pink  points,  and  half  of  the  litter  would  be 
blessed  (ft)  by  nature  with  a  slight  covering  for  the  head 
and  tail. 

In  Mexico,  among  the  natives,  these  dogs  are  used 
externally  for  the  treatment  of  rheumatism,  and  internally, 
sometimes,  to  assuage  the  pangs  of  hunger.  There  would 
necessarily  be  more  virtue  in  their  warm  little  bodies  as  a 
substitute  for  the  hot- water  bags  than  as  an  article  of  diet, 
at  least  judging  from  our  civilized  stand-point. 

The  hairless  dog  is  a  pet  and  house-dog  only,  and  as 
such  has  some  good  qualities  that  his  hairy  brethren  have 
not.  He  is  naturally  cleanly — a  peculiarity  not  possessed 
by  any  other  native  Mexican — never  leaves  hair  about  on 
furniture  or  clothes,  does  not  have  fleas  or  any  odor,  other 
than  that  of  the  soap  with  which  one  can  keep  his  skin 
as  sweet  and  pleasant  to  the  touch  as  one's  own.  Like 
any  other  good  house-dog,  he  is  naturally  watchful  and 
suspicious  of  strange  footsteps,  and  he  is  strongly  affec- 
tionate. 

There  is  an  erroneous  idea  prevalent  that  these  hairless 
dogs  have  to  be  kept  blanketed  in  all  but  torrid  weather. 
They  do  not  require  any  more  artificial  warmth  than  the  Ital- 
ian Greyhound,  but,  like  them,  should  always  be  blanketed 
when  exposed  to  outdoor  winds  or  wintry  air,  but  never  in 
the  house.  Much  covering  or  coddling  has  a  peculiar  effect 
on  the  color  of  their  skin,  bleaching  it  more  or  less,  accord- 
ing to  the  warmth  and  duration  of  the  extra  protection. 

Puppies  are  at  birth  much  lighter  in  hue  than  when 
older,  many  of  the  white  spots  becoming  "by  degrees 
smaller  and  beautifully  less,"  and  some  entirely  disappear- 
ing. In  several  litters  out  of  the  dogs  referred  to,  three 
or  four  puppies  only  have  been  born  dark  all  over. 

It  is  essential  to  success  in  breeding,  in  the  North,  that 
puppies  should  not  be  whelped  in  winter.  The  early 
spring-time  is  best,  when  it  can  be  so  arranged,  as  they  are 


THE   MEXICAN   HAIRLESS   DOG.  651 

then  pretty  well  grown  and  established  in  health  and  vigor 
before  the  advent  of  the  cold  months.  Distemper  is  apt  to 
be  a  serious  matter  with  them,  but  I  have  never  seen  one 
afflicted  with  any  kind  of  skin  disease,  unless  I  except 
one  poor  little  bitch  that  was  suffering  from  an  eruption, 
the  natural  consequence  of  a  diet  of  sweets  and  indigesti- 
ble pastry. 

The  dog  illustrated,  Me  Too  (6074),  is  pretty  well  known 
in  the  East,  and  the  portrait  is  a  good  one.  As  can  be  seen, 
he  is  of  neither  Terrier  nor  Grey  hound  shape.  By  the 
way,  nearly  all  the  writers  who  have  treated  of  this  dog 
speak  of  him  as  a  Greyhound  and  not  as  a  Terrier.  Me  Too 
is  broad-chested  and  of  such  muscular  development  as  is 
rarely  met  with  in  specimens  of  this  breed.  The  hind 
quarters  are  extremely  graceful  and  Greyhound-like  in 
form  and  action. 

About  the  time  the  photograph  was  taken  from  which 
this  engraving  was  made,  Me  Too  ran  one  hundred  yards 
on  an  athletic  club's  grounds  in  a  fraction  over  seven 
seconds,  without  any  training  or  understanding  of 
what  was  expected  of  him.  This  was  a  trifle  longer  than 
the  best  on  record  for  dogs  up  to  that  date;  and  this 
"  without  turning  a  hair,"  if  I  may  be  allowed  the  expres 
sion. 

His  tail  is  short,  fine,  and  well  set  on;  the  back  short  and 
ribs  well  set  on.  The  lines  of  the  neck  are  so  rounded  as  to 
have  called  forth  the  remark  that  it  was  like  the  neck  of  a 
lovely  woman.  His  head  is  too  short  for  a  Greyhound  or 
Terrier,  but  as  a  compensation  he  has  a  larger  brain-pan 
than  either,  and  the  soft  brown  eyes  are  full  of  expression; 
muzzle  nicely  pointed;  ears  fine  and  perfectly  erect,  but 
not  too  large  for  the  proportions;  skin,  all  over,  soft  as 
undressed  kid,  almost  black  in  summer,  and  a  mouse -col or 
in  winter.  His  teeth  are  bad,  and  this  is  a  peculiarity  of 
the  breed,  being  few  in  number  and  indifferent  in  quality. 
Youatt,  in  his  book,  mentions  this  singular  circumstance 
connected  with  the  Turkish  hairless  dog,  and  I  myself  ob- 
served it.  It  may  safely  be  inferred  that  a  hairless  dog 


652  THE   AMERICAN   BOOK    OF   THE   DOG. 

with  good  teeth  gets  them  as  the  result  of  a  cross  with 
some  outsider. 

Me  Too  weighs  eighteen  pounds.  His  measurements  I 
have  never  taken,  and  he  is  so  old  now  that  it  would  not  be 
fair  to  offer  them.  His  serious  faults  are  two  white  toes  on 
the  fore  and  hind  feet  of  the  right  side  and  a  jaw  slightly 
overshot,  or  "pig- jawed,"  as  it  is  termed.  He  was  shown, 
during  five  years,  at  fifteen  large  bench  shows  and  judged 
by  ten  different  judges  without  defeat — an  unusual  record. 
Mr.  W.  K.  Taunton,  an  Englishman  who  has  had  larger 
experience  of  foreign  dogs  than  any  man  living,  judged 
the  Mexican  Hairless  class  at  New  York  in  1888,  and  vol- 
unteered the  remark  that  Me  Too  was  a  rare  one,  and  that 
he  had  never  seen  his  better.  Mr.  J.  R.  Pierson,  formerly 
of  Greyhound  fame,  has  seen  many  of  these  dogs  in  Brazil, 
and  has  always  considered  Me  Too  a  typical  specimen.  His 
breeding  is  entirely  unknown  to  me,  but  I  believe  him  to 
have  been  born  about  March,  1882,  as  he  came  into  my  pos- 
session when  undoubtedly  a  year  old.  Me  Too  is  now 
aging  fast,  for  this  climate  is  not  conducive  to  longevity  in 
the  Mexican  Hairless  race. 

Nellie  (6076),  now  in  possession  of  Mrs.  E.  C.  Moore,  of 
New  Rochelle,  N.  Y.,  is  also  of  unknown  pedigree,  but  in 
her  prime  was  a  fine  one.  She  stands  badly  on  her  feet, 
but  that  is  also  unnatural  to  her.  In  color  she  is  even 
darker  than  Me  Too,  and  her  skin  is  of  remarkable  softness. 
A  few  white  blotches  are  scattered  over  her  legs  and  feet. 
Her  face  would  be  prettier  if  the  eyes  were  not  quite  so 
prominent. 

As  is  proper  in  her  sex,  she  is  much  less  muscular  than 
Me  Too,  stands  a  trifle  higher  on  her  legs,  and  is  yet 
smaller,  weighing  about  fourteen  pounds.  Her  action  is 
much  like  that  of  the  Italian  Greyhound,  and  she  is  a 
pretty  companion  for  a  walk. 

Pickaninny  (6077)  was  the  result  of  breeding  Me  Too 
to  Nellie,  and  she  was  the  prettiest  little  bitch  I  ever  saw. 
She  lived  to  the  age  of  eleven  months,  and  then  died  in  the 
agonies  of  strychnine  poisoning. 


THE    MEXICAN   HAIRLESS   DOG.  653 

White  Wings  (9251)  is  a  very  good  bitch,  out  of  Me 
Too  and  Nellie,  having,  however,  much  white  on  all  four 
legs,  and  to  which  she  owes  her  name.  White  Wings  has 
been  a  bench-show  winner,  but  will  never  be  able  to  compete 
again,  owing  to  blindness  of  one  eye.  I  have  heard  of  many 
fine  Mexican  Hairless  Dogs,  but  have  actually  seen,  outside 
of  my  own  stock,  only  the  few  I  mention  below. 

Mede  (6075)  belonged  to  a  Mr.  Palmer,  of  Passaic  Falls, 
IN".  J.  She  was  an  all-dark  one  and  very  good,  but  died 
when  about  six  years  old  without  ever  being  bred.  She 
had,  however,  done  some  winning. 

I  saw  on  the  street  in  New  York  a  little  beauty,  and 
took  the  trouble  to  find  out  her  home.  She  was  run  over 
and  killed  soon  after,  and  the  specimen  her  owner  replaced 
her  with  was  a  poor  one. 

I  have  only  seen  two  good  dogs.  One  was  a  puppy  of 
Nellie's,  named  Judge,  who  died  of  distemper  after  taking 
a  prize  at  his  first  show,  New  Haven,  1885.  He  was  only 
half-Mexican,  however,  having  been  sired  by  an  Italian 
Greyhound. 

Pippo,  owned  by  Mrs.  L.  D.  Hurd,  of  New  York,  and  win- 
ner at  the  1890  show  there,  is  a  good  dog,  of  heavier  frame 
and  holding  his  age  much  better.  This  completes  the  list  of 
good  ones  that  I  have  a  personal  knowledge  of.  Pedigrees 
are  scarce,  for  the  breed  has  never  been  cultivated  and  cared 
for  as  is  necessary  to  establish  them.  Dogs  of  this  breed 
should  be  washed  occasionally  with  castile  soap,  and  a  lib- 
eral application  of  vaseline  once  a  month,  well  rubbed  in, 
will  improve  the  appearance  of  the  skin.  Puppies  while 
very  young  should  be  kept  in  a  warm  room,  and  should  be 
handled  with  great  care,  as  they  are  extremely  delicate  and 
may  be  easily  injured.  Their  bed  should  be  made  of  Canton 
flannel,  and  should  be  frequently  washed. 

The  Mexican,  like  all  other  dogs  that  are  kept  mainly 
in  the  house,  should  have  plenty  of  exercise.  It  is  well  to 
teach  any  house-dog  to  retrieve  a  ball,  and  someone  should 
put  in  twenty  to  thirty  minutes  each  day  in  throwing  the 
ball  through  the  hall,  or  adjoining  rooms,  and  having  the 


654  THE   AMERICAN   BOOK   OF   THE   DOG. 

dog  bring  it.  Make  him  move  as  rapidly  as  possible — a 
lively  run  is  best.  Nearly  all  house-dogs  enjoy  this  sport 
when  once  taught  it,  and  will  enter  into  it  with  great  zest. 
On  every  fair  day  the  dog  should  be  given  a  run,  of  at  least 
half  a  mile,  on  the  street  or  in  the  country. 

The  prejudice  which  exists  in  the  minds  of  many  against 
the  hairless  dog  soon  wears  off  if  given  the  opportunity, 
for  a  better  house-pet,  with  fewer  disadvantages,  can  seldom 
be  found  than  a  symmetrically  formed,  dark-colored,  clean- 
skinned  Mexican  Hairless  Dog.  No  standard  or  points  of 
judging  this  breed  have  yet  been  adopted. 


THE  TOY  SPANIELS. 


BY  Miss  MARION  E.  BAKNISTER. 


>HE  origin  of  the  King  Charles  and  Blenheim  Spaniels 
is  obscure,  and  beyond  the  fact  that  (as  claimed  by 
some  writers)  they  came  from  Spain,  little  is  known 
concerning  it.  King  Charles  II.  first  rendered  them  popu- 
lar, in  England,  by  the  care  and  attention  he  gave  to  the 
breeding  and  rearing  of  good  specimens.  Dr.  Caius  writes 
of  them  as  follows: 

Of  the  delicate,  ncate,  and  pretty  kind  of  dogges  called  the  Spaniel  gentle, 
or  the  comforter,  in  Latine  Melitseus  or  Fotor.  These  dogges  are  little,  pretty, 
proper,  and  fine,  and  sought  for  to  satisfy  the  delicatenesse  of  daintie  dames 
and  wanton  women's  wills.  Instrumentes  of  folly  for  them  to  play  and  dally 
withall,  to  tryfle  away  the  treasure  of  time.  These  puppies,  the  smaller  Ihey 
be,  the  more  pleasure  they  provoke,  as  more  meete  play-fellowes  for  mincing 
mistresses  to  beare  in  their  bosoms. 

According  to  the  good  Doctor,  the  superstitious  people 
of  the  middle  ages,  even  in  enlightened  England,  believed 
that  these  little  dogs  possessed  curative  powers.  On  this 
subject  he  writes: 

We  find  that  these  little  dogges  are  good  to  Assuage  the  sicknesse  of  the 
stomacke,  being  oftentimes  thereunto  applyed  as  a  plaster  preservative,  or 
borne  in  the  bosom  of  the  diseased  and  weake  person,  which  effect  is  per- 
formed by  theyr  moderate  heate.  Moreover,  the  disease  and  sicknesse  chaungeth 
his  place,  and  entreth  (though  it  be  not  precisely  marcked)  into  the  dogge, 
which  experience  can  testify,  for  these  kinde  of  dogges  sometimes  fall  sicke, 
and  sometimes  die,  without  any  harme  outwardly  inforced,  which  is  an  argu- 
ment that  the  disease  of  the  gentleman  or  gentlewoman,  or  owner  whatsoever, 
entreth  into  the  dogge  by  the  operation  of  heate  intermingled  and  infected. 

Sir  William  Jardine,  in  the  " Naturalist's  Library" 
(1843),  speaks  of  the  King  Charles  Spaniel  as  "a  beautiful 
breed,  in  general  black  and  white,  and  presumed  to  be  the 
parent  of  the  Cocker,  who  is  usually  black,  and  shorter  in 
the  back  than  the  Spaniel." 

(655) 


656  THE   AMERICAN    BOOK   OF   THE   DOG. 

The  Blenheim,  Marlborough,  or  Pyrame  of  Buffori  is 
very  similar  to  the  above,  but  the  black  color  is  relieved  by 
fire-colored  spots  above  the  eyes,  and  the  same  on  the 
breast  and  feet;  the  muzzle  is  fuller  and  the  back  rather 
short.  The  Maltese  dog  (Canis  Melitceus),  the  Bichon  or 
Chien  Bouffe  of  Buffon,  is  the  most  ancient  of  all  the  small 
Spaniel  races,  being  figured  on  Roman  monuments  and 
noticed  by  Strabo;  the  muzzle  is  rounder,  the  hair  very 
long,  silky,  and  usually  white,  the  stature  very  small,  and 
only  fit  for  ladies'  lap-dogs. 

John  Scott  writes  (1830),  in  the  Sportsman1 s  Repository: 

Twenty  years  ago  (i.  e. ,  1800),  His  Grace  the  Duke  of  Marlborough  was 
reputed  to  possess  the  smallest  and  best  breed  of  Cockers  in  Britain ;  they  were 
invariably  red  and  white,  with  very  long  ears,  short  noses,  and  black  eyes. 

Still  another  writer  claims  that  at  least  the  King  Charles 
type  first  came  from  Japan.  Robert  Fortune,  who  traveled 
in  that  country  in  the  seventeenth  century,  says: 

The  lap-dogs  of  the  country  (Japan)  are  highly  prized,  both  by  natives 
and  foreigners.  They  are  small,  some  of  them  not  more  than  nine  or  ten 
inches  in  length.  They  are  remarkable  for  snub  noses  and  sunken  eyes,  and 
are  certainly  more  curious  than  beautiful.  They  are  carefully  bred,  and  com- 
mand high  prices,  even  amongst  the  Japanese;  and  are  dwarfed,  it  is  said,  by 
the  use  of  "  saki,"  a  spirit  to  which  their  owners  are  particularly  partial. 

Commenting  on  this  statement,  "  Idstone"  says: 

I  have  seen  several  of  these  Japanese  lap-dogs;  some  have  been  publicly 
exhibited,  and  others  have  been  shown  to  me  by  gentlemen  who  imported 
them  from  that  country.  I  recollect  seeing  two  very  beautiful  specimens 
brought  home  by  Mr.  Clogstone,  of  Wimborne,  Dorsetshire.  These,  both  of 
them,  had  large,  prominent  eyes  (so  that  the  sunken  eye  named  by  Fortune 
was  a  misnomer),  of  the  King  Charles  type,  and  were  only  deficient  in  ear; 
their  color  was  pale  yellow  and  white,  and  the  coat  was  silky.  The  noses  of 
those  I  saw  were  very  short,  but  the  skull  was  not  so  round  as  the  London 
breeder  would  desire,  yet  showing  a  tendency  to  the  spherical  formation  which 
is  a  mark  of  the  race. 

In  corroboration  of  my  statement,  I  will  give  Sir  Rutherford  Alcock's  own 
words:  "  I  am  to  find  a  pair  of  well-bred  Japanese  dogs,  with  eyes  like  saucers, 
no  nose,  the  tongue  hanging  out  at  the  side — too  large  for  the  mouth,  white  and 
tan  if  possible,  and  two  years  old."  He  goes  on  to  say:  "  My  dogs  are  chosen 
— a  species  of  Charles  II.  Spaniel  intensified — and,  by-the-bye,  there  is  so 
much  genuine  likeness  that  I  think  it  probable  the  Merry  Monarch  was 
indebted  to  his  marriage  with  a  Portuguese  princess  for  the  original  race  of 
Spaniels,  as  well  as  her  dower  of  Bombay." 


THE   TOY    SPANIELS. 


657 


There  is  another  reason  for  believing  that  the  King  Charles  was  imported 
from  Japan.  There  is  a  vulgar  belief  that  the  Spaniel  may  be  dwarfed  in  size 
by  giving  it  gin,  and  possibly  the  supposed  secret  of  producing  lap-dogs  in 
Japan — the  administration  of  saki — was  brought  over  by  the  importer  of  dogs. 
These  ignorant  ideas  are  always  traceable,  arid  if  the  conformation  of  the  King 


KING   CHARLES  SPANIEL-ROMEO. 
Owned  by  Mrs.  F.   Senn,   278  West  Eleventh  street,  New  York  City. 

Charles  and  Japanese  is  so  close,  and  the  means  of  dwarfing  them  coincides  in 
both  countries,  or  rather  is  supposed  to  dwarf  them  (for  it  does  not),  and  the 
dogs  are  not  referable  to  the  same  stock,  it  is  a  very  singular  coincidence. 

Thus  it  will  be  seen  that  whatever  the  origin  of  the  King 
Charles  and  Blenheim,  they  have  led  a  somewhat  checkered 
career;  though  both  have  at  times  been  called  by  other 

42 


658  THE   AMERICAN   BOOK    OF   THE   DOG. 

names,  and  have  occasionally  waned  in  popularity,  they  are 
both  ancient,  and  have  maintained  their  existence  in  the 
canine  world  against  frequent  neglect  on  the  part  of  the 
public,  coming  down  to  this  more  appreciative  and  dog- 
loving  age  in  a  remarkable  state  of  purity,  all  things  con- 
sidered. Still  we  have  cause  to  regret,  deeply,  that  these 
beautiful  animals  are  not  more  popular  to-day  than  they 
are.  They  are  far  more  intelligent,  affectionate,  and  beauti- 
ful than  many  of  the  other  breeds  that  are  so  extensively 
sought  after  and  cultivated  as  ladies'  pets,  and  yet  thou- 
sands of  dog-fanciers  seem  not  to  know  this.  The  reason  is 
that  this  is  an  age  of  crazes  and  fads,  and  it  matters  not 
how  homely,  how  stupid,  or  how  insipid  a  breed  of  dogs 
may  be,  if  its  manipulators  can  succeed  in  getting  it  said, 
prominently,  that  it  is  the  fashionable  breed  of  the  day, 
the  devotees  of  fashion,  the  fadists  (to  coin  a  word),  will 
rush  to  the  new  kennels  in  search  of  I  he  new  breed,  pay 
any  price  that  may  be  asked  for  any  specimen  that  may  or 
may  not  be  able  to  show  a  pedigree,  and  carry  it  away  in 
triumph.  Some  of  these  people  heave  deep-drawn  sighs  of 
relief  and  exultation  as  they  drive  away  with  their  treasure 
in  their  arms,  and  exclaim:  "How  fortunate;  how  should 
I  ever  have  survived,  if  I  had  not  succeeded  in  getting  one 
of  the  first  of  these  new  pets  ! ' ' 

The  exultation  is  to  be  short-lived,  however,  for  Madame 
may  rest  assured  that  next  year,  or  the  year  after,  or  the 
year  after  that  at  the  farthest,  some  new  breed  will  be 
boomed  and  will  become  the  craze.  Then  this  pet  that  was 
secured  at  the  cost  of  such  fast  driving  and  so  large  a  roll 
of  bills,  must  be  given  away,  and  a  strange  idol  must  be 
erected  in  its  place. 

The  more  practical,  conservative,  and  level-headed  peo- 
ple will,  however,  in  time,  come  to  disregard  these  sensa- 
tional favorites,  these  passing  crazes,  and  to  value  the 
brainy,  silky-haired,  bright-eyed,  affectionate  little  Spaniel 
.  as  the  most  beautiful  and  lovable  pet-dog  in  the  world. 
The  time  will  come  when  Toy  Spaniels  will  far  outnumber 
the  Italian  Greyhound,  the  Poodle,  the  Mexican  Hairless, 


THE   TOY   SPANIELS.  659 

the  Yorkshire  or  the  Skye  Terrier,  not  only  in  aristocratic 
and  democratic  homes,  but  on  the  .show  bench.  The  time 
will  come  when  true  merit  and  beauty  will  count  for  more 
than  the  mandates  of  dame  fashion,  and  then  the  Spaniel 
will  achieve  his  true  and  proper  place  in  the  estimation  of 
dog-lovers. 

What  can  be  more  loved  or  lovable  in  the  canine  world 
than  the  richly  colored  and  richly  coated  Blenheim,  or  the 
large-eyed,  somber-hued  King  Charles?  Not  alone  in  appear- 
ance are  these  dogs  attractive,  but  their  intellectual  quali- 
ties attract  to  them  all  who  come  to  know  them. 

"What,"  say  you,  "intellect  in  a  dog?"  Aye,  verily; 
and  far  more  of  it  in  some  dogs  than  in  some  people  whom 
I  know.  I  will  not  here  go  into  an  argument  on  this  point; 
abler  pens  than  mine  have  laid  down  the  reasons  for  this 
faith,  and  to  them  I  refer  all  doubters. 

Speaking  of  the  intellectuality  of  these  dogs,  I  can  not 
do  better  than  quote  again  from  "  Idstone,"  who  says: 

I  have  seen  extraordinary  instinct  developed  in  these  Spaniels.  One,  a 
dog  in  my  possession  in  1838,  and  until  his  death,  was,  from  constant  associa- 
tion with  me  and  my  friends,  almost  human;  and  as  he  held  his  head  on  one 
side,  apparently  endeavoring  to  fathom  the  meaning  of  conversation,  it  seemed 
as  though  he  were  almost  prepared  to  join  in  it. 

On  one  occasion  he  was  sleeping  in  the  room  where  a  lady  to  whom  he  was 
much  attached  was  moaning  with  pain,  and  waking  up,  he  seemed  at  a  glance 
to  understand  the  emergency,  and  after  a  moment's  consideration  endeavored 
to  pull  the  bell,  though  he  had  never  before  been  taught  to  do  so.  Though 
impatient  of  strangers,  he  would  at  once  permit  the  approaches  of  my  friends 
at  first  sight;  and,  more  singular  still,  he  understood  and  appreciated  a  dislike 
I  did  not  venture  to  express,  and  would  always  dive  at  the  legs  of  a  couple  of 
New  College  chaplains  toward  whom  I  had  no  cordiality.  How  did  he  know 
this,  I  wonder;  or  how  divine  that  I  had  a  sincere  respect  for  Doctor  Pusey,  to 
whom  I  never  spoke  in  my  life?  But  such  was  the  case,  I  am  sure,  by  his  man- 
ner and  gestures,  which,  however,  the  sage  never  noticed  or  acknowledged. 

One  of  the  greatest  pleasures  to  be  derived  from  the  own- 
ership of  a  Toy  Spaniel  is  in  training  him  to  perform 
various  tricks,  to  carry  notes,  packages,  etc. ,  to  persons  in 
various  parts  of  the  house  or  grounds.  They  take  up  these 
tricks  readily,  and  it  is  intensely  interesting  to  watch  the 
development  of  intelligence  in  a  young  Spaniel  under 


660 


THE   AMERICAN    BOOK    OF   THE   DOG. 


patient  and  practical  tutorship.  The  method  of  this  class 
of  training  is  simple,  and  as  it  has  been  fully  treated  of, 
under  the  proper  heads,  by  several  of  the  contributors  to 
this  work,  I  need  not  here  go  into  it.  Anyone  who  engages 


BLENHEIM   SPANIEL— KING  VICTOR. 
Owned  by  Mrs.   F.  Senn,   278  West  Eleventh  street,  New  York  City. 

in  it,  however,  must  find  it  a  delightful  task;  and  the  pet 
once  thoroughly  educated  will  be  a  source  of  pleasure  to 
his  owner,  and  of  wonder  to  others,  as  long  as  he  lives. 

The  following  points  are  observed  in  judging  Toy  Span- 
iels: 

The  head  should  be  domed,  and  in  good  specimens  is 


THE  TOY   SPANIELS.  661 

absolutely  semi-globular,  sometimes  even  extending  beyond 
the  half-circle  and  projecting  over  the  eyes  so  as  to  nearly 
meet  the  upturned  nose. 

The  eyes  are  set  wide  apart,  with  the  eyelids  at  right- 
angles  to  the  line  of  the  face,  not  oblique  or  fox-like.  The 
eyes  themselves  are  large,  lustrous,  and  very  dark  in  color, 
so  as  to  be  generally  considered  black,  the  enormous  pupils, 
which  are  absolutely  of  that  color,  increasing  this  tendency. 
From  their  large  size,  there  is  almost  always  a  certain 
amount  of  weeping  shown  at  the  inner  angles;  this  is  owing 
to  a  defect  in  the  lachrymal  duct. 

The  stop  or  hollow  between  the  eyes  is  as  well  marked 
as  in  the  Bulldog,  or  even  more  so,  many  good  specimens 
exhibiting  a  hollow  deep  enough  to  bury  a  small  marble. 

The  nose  must  be  short  and  well  turned  up  between  the 
eyes,  without  any  indication  of  artificial  displacement 
afforded  by  a  deviation  to  either  side.  The  color  of  the 
end  should  be  black,  and  it  should  be  both  deep  and  wide, 
with  open  nostrils. 

The  lower  jaw  must  be  wide  between  its  branches,  leav- 
ing plenty  of  space  for  the  tongue  and  for  the  attachment 
of  the  lower  lips,  which  must  completely  conceal  the  teeth. 
It  should  also  be  turned  up  or  "finished,"  so  as  to  allow  of 
its  meeting  the  end  of  the  upper  jaw. 

The  ears  must  be  long,  so  as  to  approach  the  ground. 
In  an  aver  age -sized  dog  they  should  measure  twenty  inches 
from  tip  to  tip,  and  in  some  good  specimens  the  length 
reaches  twenty-two  inches,  or  even  a  trifle  more.  They 
should  be  set  low  on  the  head  and  be  heavily  feathered. 
In  this  respect  the  King  Charles  is  expected  to  exceed  the 
Blenheim,  arid  his  ears  occasionally  extend  to  twenty-four 
inches. 

The  most  desirable  size  is  about  ten  pounds,  but  we  often 
get  fine  specimens  that  weigh  more  than  this. 

In  compactness  of  shape  these  Spaniels  nearly  rival  the 
Pug,  but  the  length  of  coat  adds  greatly  to  the  apparent 
bulk,  as  the  body  when  the  coat  is  wet  looks  small  in  com- 
parison with  that  of  the  Pug;  still  it  ought  to  be  decidedly 


662  THE   AMERICAN   BOOK    OF   THE   DOG. 

cobby,  with  strong,  stout  legs,  broad  back,  and  wide  chest. 
We  find  many  specimens  weak  in  the  loin  and  hind  legs, 
but  these  are  not  good  ones. 

The  symmetry  of  the  Toy  Spaniels  is  of  some  importance, 
but  it  is  seldom  that  there  is  any  defect  in  this  direction. 

The  coat  should  be  long,  silky,  soft,  and  wavy,  but  not 
curly.  In  the  Blenheim  there  should  be  a  profuse  mane 
extending  well  down  the  front  of  the  chest.  The  feather 
should  be  well  displayed  on  the  ears  and  feet,  where  it  is  so 
long  as  to  give  the  appearance  of  their  being  webbed.  It  is 
also  carried  well  up  the  backs  of  the  legs.  In  the  King 
Charles  the  feather  on  the  ears  is  very  long  and  profuse, 
exceeding  in  length  that  of  the  Blenheim  by  an  inch  or 
more.  The  feather  on  the  tail  (which  is  usually  cut  to  the 
length  of  three  and  a  half  or  four  inches)  should  be  silky, 
and  from  five  to  six  inches  long,  making  a  marked  "  flag" 
of  a  square  shape,  and  not  carried  above  the  level  of  the 
back. 

The  color  varies  with  the  breed.  The  King  Charles  is  a 
rich,  glossy  black  and  deep  tan,  without  any  white;  tan 
spots  over  the  eyes  and  on  the  cheeks,  and  tan  markings 
on  the  legs.  The  Blenheim  must  on  no  account  be  whole- 
colored,  but  must  have  a  ground  of  pure  pearly  white,  with 
bright,  rich  chestnut,  or  ruby-red  markings,  evenly  distrib- 
uted in  large  patches.  The  ears  and  cheeks  are  red,  with  a 
blaze  of  white  extending  from  the  nose  up  to  the  forehead 
and  ending  in  a  crescentive  curve  between  the  ears.  In  the 
center  of  the  blaze  there  should  be  a  clear  spot  of  red, 
of  the  size  of  a  sixpence.  The  Tri-color,  or  Charles  I. 
Spaniel,  must  have  the  tan  of  the  King  Charles,  with 
markings  like  those  of  the  Blenheim,  in  black  instead  of 
red,  on  a  pearly-white  ground.  The  ears  and  under  the 
tail  must  also  be  lined  with  tan.  The  Tri-color  has  no 
spot,  that  mark  of  beauty  being  peculiarly  the  property 
of  the  Blenheim.  The  Tri-color  is  now  known  as  the 
Prince  Charles.  The  red  Toy  Spaniels  are  known  as 
Ruby  Spaniels,  the  points  being  the  same  as  those  of  the 
King  Charles,  differing  only  in  the  matter  of  color,  which 


THE  TOY   SPANIELS.  663 

should  be  entirely  a  rich,  chestnut  or  ruby -red,  the  color 
of  the  nose  to  be  black. 

SCALE   OF  POINTS. 

KING  CHARLES. 

Value.  Value. 

Symmetry,  condition,  and  size    20    Ears 15 

Head 15    Coat  and  feathering 15 

Stop 5    Color 10 

Muzzle 10 

Eyes   10  Total 100 

BLENHEIM. 

Value.  Value. 

Symmetry,  condition,  and  size 20    Ears  ...   10 

Head 15    Coat  and  feathering 15 

Stop 5    Color  and  markings 15 

Muzzle * 10    Spot    5 

Eyes 5 

Total  100 

Among  the  prominent  breeders  of  Toy  Spaniels  in  this 
country  may  be  mentioned  Mr.  A.  W.  Lucy,  who  has  bred 
many  good  specimens.  His  Milwaukee  Charlie,  sired  by 
Imported  Duke,  is  one  of  the  best  King  Charles  Spaniels 
ever  bred  in  this  country.  Duke  also  sired  Hylas,  winner 
of  first  at  Chicago;  Rome,  first  at  New  York;  and  Prince, 
first  at  Boston.  Other  successful  breeders  are  Miss  Cam- 
eron, Mrs.  Moody,  Miss  Phillips,  and  Mrs.  Weston,  of  New 
York;  Mr.  F.  B.  Lucy  and  Mr.  F.  B.  Fay,  of  Boston;  Mr. 
Mariner  and  Mr.  R.  W.  Holmes,  of  Milwaukee,  and  Mrs. 
L.  D.  McCord,  No.  67  Thirty-seventh  street,  Chicago.* 

*  Other  prominent  Toy  Spaniel  breeders  and  owners  in  this  country  are: 
William  Phillips,  150  West  Fifty-sixth  street,  New  York  City;  Mrs.  Kistermanu, 
202  East  Forty-fourth  street,  New  York  City;  Mrs.  J.  R.  Franklin,  15  East 
Fifty-sixth  street,  New  York  City;  M.  J.  Nolan,  2717  Franklin  avenue,  St. 
Louis,  Mo.;  A.  W.  Lucy,  6  Second  street,  New  York  City;  F.  S.  Morrell,  52 
Broadway,  New  York  City;  Mrs.  J.  P.  Shea,  305  West  Sixty-ninth  street, 
New  York  City;  J.  C.  Thomas,  200  West  Fifty-seventh  street,  New  York  City; 
Miss  E.  R.  Catlin,  16  East  Forty-fifth  street,  New  York  City;  George  H.  Field, 
Chelsea,  Mass. ;  George  M.  Smith,  7  McLean  court,  Boston,  Mass.;  E.  Brad- 
ford, 204  St.  Antoine  street,  Montreal,  Canada;  Miss  E.  R.  Catlin,  4  West  Six- 
ty-sixth street,  New  York  City;  Acme  Kennels,  263  Twenty-seventh  street, 
Milwaukee,  Wis. ;  Joseph  York,  Toronto,  Ontario,  Canada;  Allen  Thebilcock, 
Toronto,  Ontario,  Canada;  W.  Gale,  Base  Ball  Park,  Cincinnati,  Ohio;  C.  W. 
Sander,  146  East  Third  street,  Dayton,  Ohio.— ED. 


664  THE   AMERICAN   BOOK    OF   THE   DOG. 

One  of  the  most  successful  breeders  of  Toy  Spaniels  in  this 
country  is  Mrs.  F.  Senn,  of  278  West  Eleventh  street,  New 
York  City.  Her  King  Charles,  Romeo  (9230),  is  a  beauti- 
ful specimen.  He  won  first  in  puppy  class  at  New  York, 
1888,  first  and  special  at  Philadelphia,  1889,  and  first  at  New 
York,  1890.  He  was  whelped  November  24,  1887,  and  weighs 
eight  pounds.  Her  Blenheim,  King  Victor  (imported),  has 
won  five  first  and  two  champion  prizes,  and  has  never 
been  beaten.  His  wreight  is  twelve  pounds,  and  his  color  is 
lemon  and  white.  He  was  formerly  owned  by  Mr.  William 
Phillips,  who  has  probably  shown  more  good  Spaniels  than 
any .  other  person  in  this  country,  and  always  winners. 
Among  these  may  be  named  such  fine  specimens  as  the  King 
Charles,  Roscius,  and  the  Blenheim,  King  Pippin,  both  too 
well  known  to  need  any  description  here. 


THE  SCHIPPERKE. 

BY  E.  R.  SPALDING. 

OME  would-be  canine  authorities  have  recently  as- 
serted that  the  Schipperke  is  a  mongrel  of  modern 


manufacture.  This  is  not  the  case  by  any  means. 
It  is  a  distinct  breed,  of  remote  though  unknown 
origin.  The  breed  is  supposed  to  have  originated 

in  Belgium,  though  even    this    is  not  definitely  known. 

Belgian  fanciers,  however,  affirm  that  he  has  been  known 

in  that  country  for  several    centuries;   and  at  least  one 

writer  affirms  that  they  have  been  known  in  the  Flemish 

towns  for  three  hundred  years. 

The  breed  is  not  generally  popular  in  Belgium,  though  a 

great  favorite  with  certain  classes,  and  good  specimens  are 

rare  and  high-priced. 

Mr.  John  Lysen,  of  Antwerp,  in  a  recent  communication 

to  the  American  Field,  says  of  this  dog: 

They  are  always  called  "Spits"  in  Belgium,  and  if  you  were  to  ask  a 
dog-dealer  for  a  "  Schipperke  "  dog,  he  wouldn't  know  what  you  were  speaking 
about.  The  name  Schipperke  was  given  when  a  few  fanciers  got  up  the  club, 
and  when  I  asked,  later  on,  the  one  who  proposed  it  why  they  had  not  given 
the  dog  its  proper  name,  he  answered  that  the  Pomeranian  was  already  called 
"  Spitz  "  in  Germany,  and  moreover  that  a  queer  name  would  render  the  dog 
more  attractive  to  foreigners! 

Considering  the  shape  of  head,  the  mane  and  frill,  I  should  think  the 
Schipperke  is  related  to  the  Pomeranian,  which,  notwithstanding  its  name,  is 
principally  bred  in  the  surroundings  of  Cologne,  Aix-la-Chapelle,  and  other 
places  near  the  Belgian  frontier.  Until  three  years  ago,  the  black  tailless 
Spits  had  been  the  dog  of  the  working-class  of  people,  especially  butchers, 
shoemakers,  and  also  not  unfrequently  he  was  seen  on  the  canal-boats,  whence 
they  gave  him  the  name  of  Schipperke,  but  he  might  as  well  claim  the  name  of 
"  Beenhouwerke "  (little  butcher)  or  "  Schoenmakerke "  (little  shoemaker). 
Until  a  year  ago  (and  sometimes  even  now),  when  a  wealthy  man  was  taking  a 
walk  with  his  Spits  he  was  looked  at  with  inquiring  eyes  by  all  who  passed 
him.  The  only  ones  which  were  allowed  to  live  among  gentlemen  and  ladies 

(665) 


THE   AMERICAN   BOOK    OF   THE   DOG. 

were  the  toy  Spits,  and  some  were  really  very  small  and  pretty.  Now,  how- 
ever, the  black  pariah  is  becoming  a  favorite,  and  many  a  young  gentleman 
takes  a  walk  with  his  Spits,  which  has  taken  the  place  of  his  late  Fox  Terrier. 

The  head  of  the  Schipperke  much  resembles  that  of  the  Pomeranian,  a  pair 
of  small  triangular  ears  carried  perfectly  straight  and  close  to  each  other. 
The  neck  and  shoulders  are  strong,  and  the  hair  is  longer  on  these  parts,  but 
there  must  be  no  excess  here,  as  many  dogs  have  been  bred  and  shown  already 
with  long,  soft  hair,  thus  losing  entirely  their  true  character. 

The  body  is  rather  short,  and  well-filled-up  ribs  give  the  little  animal  a 
cobby  appearance.  The  Spits  stands  on  straight  legs  covered  with  short, 
smooth  hair.  The  feet  are  small  and  round  (cat-feet),  furnished  with  strong 
black  toe-nails.  Most  of  the  good  specimens  have  dew-claws,  but  some  judges 
want  to  get  rid  of  them.  With  regard  to  the  tail,  much  has  been  said,  but 
Spits  born  perfectly  tailless  do  exist,  and  in  the  opinion  of  all  those  who  used 
to  breed  them  years  ago,  a  dog  born  with  a  tail  on  is  not  a  pure-bred  one,  and 
should  not  be  kept  for  breeding.  Many  breeders  of  the  present  day,  however, 
and,  I  am  sorry  to  say,  judges  even,  say  :  "  It's  no  use  breeding  them  tailless. 
Cut  the  tail  off."  But  the  only  reason  they  could  give  for  this  is  that  they 
never  succeeded  in  breeding  a  tailless  one.  It  is  a  fact  that  out  of  a  hundred 
bred  now  scarcely  twenty,  or  even  less,  will  be  tailless,  but  this,  in  my  opinion, 
is  only  owing  to  the  fact  that  the  breed  has  not  been  kept  pure;  for,  on  the 
other  hand,  I  have  known  a  bitch  which  has  never  thrown  any  but  tailless 
puppies,  and  that  to  different  dogs. 

Schipperkes  usually  breed  very  true.  For  an  instance  of  this,  a  friend  of 
mine  had  a  pure-bred  bitch  which  a  year  ago  was  accidentally  warded  by  a 
Fox  Terrier.  She  threw  five  puppies,  all  coal-black,  bar  a  small  white  spot 
on  the  breast  and  some  on  the  toes. 

For  general  shape,  everyone  agrees;  but  for  several  points  there  is  great 
diversity  of  opinion.  At  first,  j;s  to  the  length  of  hair,  some,  with  Mr.  John 
Proctor,  who  is  an  Englishman  living  in  Antwerp,  and  who  has  made  Pick  his 
type  for  the  breed,  want  a  long  mane  extending  between  the  fore  legs  up  to 
about  half  the  body.  Others,  especially  the  breeders  of  Louvain,  want  an 
entirely  smooth,  shiny-coated  dog  with  hardly  any  frill,  and  narrow  ears,  about 
one-half  longer  than  Pick's  ears.  With  this  sort  of  Spits  the  head  is  longer 
also.  Then,  again,  Brussels  has  her  type  of  Spits,  much  shorter  in  head,  with 
large  eyes,  broad  forehead,  and  usually  large  ears  set  far  apart  and  low  on  the 
head.  With  this  type  there  usually  goes  a  fair,  hard-haired  mane  and  good 
coat;  but  unfortunately,  also,  all  the  dogs  of  this  type  are  much  out  at  the 
elbows,  which,  added  to  their  square,  short  head,  seems  to  show  Bulldog  cross. 
The  dog  usually  seen  in  Antwerp  and  surroundings  is  between  these,  and 
should  become  the  only  type,  admitting  that  the  ears  are  perfect  as  well  as 
the  head.  The  mane  does  not  appear  large  at  first  sight,  but  when  passing  the 
hand  through  it  one  is  surprised  at  the  length  of  the  hair.  There  should  be 
also  a  fair  frill  on  the  hind  quarters  and  hair  of  a  fair  length  on  the  back,  sides 
and  below  perfectly  smooth,  as  well  as  on  the  legs.  Much  diversity  of  opinion 
exists  as  yet  among  breeders  with  regard  to  the  secondary  points;  but  it  is  to 
be  hoped  that  within  a  few  years  everyone  will  recognize  one  type,  and  that  it 
will  be  the  right  old  stamp  of  Spits. 


THE   SCHIPPERKE. 


667 


In  America,  as  well  as  in  England,  the  Schipperke  has 
recently  become  extremely  popular,  and  the  demand  for 
good  typical  specimens  is  far  in  excess  of  the  supply  in 
both  countries.  On  this  account,  some  unprincipled  deal- 
ers have  picked  up  small  mongrel  dogs  which  they  have 
crossed  on  either  the  Black  and  Tan  Terrier  or  the  Spitz. 
The  product  of  such  crosses  they  have  in  some  instances 


SCHIPPERKES— MIDNIGHT    AND    DARKNESS. 
Owned  by  W.   J.   Comstock,   220  Canal  street,   Providence,   R.   I. 

sold  or  palmed  off  on  shows  for  true  Schipperkes.  Those 
crossed  on  the  Terrier  have  usually  a  soft  coat,  while  those 
resulting  from  a  Spitz  cross  usually  have  long  wavy  or 
curly  hair.  The  true  Schipperke  breeds  faithfully  to  type. 
Fifteen  puppies  have  been  produced,  under  my  observation, 
from  four  bitches  and  two  dogs.  All  of  these  are  solid 
black,  have  good  coats,  both  as  to  length  and  texture,  are 
correct  in  form  and  size,  have  the  fox  head,  the  straight, 
pricked  ear,  and  the  small,  dark-brown,  expressive  eye 
peculiar  to  the  breed. 


668  THE   AMERICAN   BOOK   OF  THE   DOG. 

Another  eminent  Belgian  fancier  of  this  breed  writes: 

The  Schipperke  is  a  tough,  hardy,  intelligent,  attractive,  and  amusing  little 
dog.  He  is  useful  about  the  house  or  barn  as  a  vermin  exterminator,  is  fond 
of  attention,  takes  readily  to  amusing  tricks,  and  is  easily  taught.  He  is 
extremely  active,  has  a  gay  carriage,  his  temper  is  admirable,  and  no  dog  is 
more  fond  of  children  than  he. 

This  little  dog,  whom  we  meet  with  so  often  on  our  canal-boats  as  a  faithful 
guard,  is  distinguished  by  a  character  denoting  great  intelligence.  On  account 
of  his  attachment  for  master  or  mistress,  his  vigilance  and  obedience,  his  good 
temper  toward  children,  his  graceful  and  elegant  gait  and  form,  as  well  as  his 
perfect  cleanliness,  he  has  become  the  favorite  house-dog.  He  is  also  a  real 
demon  for  rats,  mice,  etc.,  which  he  pursues  with  great  eagerness. 

The  head  approaches  the  type  of  the  fox.  The  skull  is  wide  and  vaulted, 
diminishing  before  the  eyes,  and  fining  down  toward  the  tip  of  the  nose, 
which  is  small  and  black.  The  ears  are  about  two  and  one-half  inches  long, 
are  pricked  and  triangular  in  shape;  the  eyes  are  lively,  dark -brown  in  color, 
and  are  placed  rather  forward  than  sidewise — somewhat  almond-shaped,  but 
become  more  round  when  the  dog  is  excited.  The  body  is  from  ten  to  fourteen 
inches  long,  from  rear  to  front  of  shoulder,  and  weight  of  grown  males  from 
ten  to  fifteen  pounds.  The  animal  stands  well  on  his  legs,  is  neither  very 
stocky  nor  is  he  slim,  is  heavier  in  front  than  behind,  and  has  a  bold  and  upright 
carriage.  The  back  is  straight  from  shoulder  to  hip,  and  ends  somewhat  like 
the  rounded  hind  quarter  of  the  guinea-pig. 

A  writer  in  a  recent  number  of  the  Dog  Owners'  Annual 
has  this  to  say  of  the  breed : 

Among  a  few  Belgian  breeders  there  is  some  talk  of  more  than  one  type 
of  Schipperke.  They  enumerate  the  Antwerp  and  Louvain  types  and  one 
between.  It  is  true  that  differences  do  exist.  Some  there  are  that  have  coarse 
Terrier  heads,  leathery  ears  very  wide  at  the  base,  and  firmly  set  up  bodies; 
these  always  look  to  me  to  require  what  they  unmistakably  once  possessed— a 
tail.  This  type  has  a  very  short  coat  and  seldom  any  ruff;  they  are  also  rather 
large. 

Then  there  is  a  little  sort  with  full  eyes,  head  inclined  to  apple-shape, 
hardly  any  muzzle,  ears  large,  and  at  sides  of  head  plenty  of  coat,  not  very 
harsh,  plenty  of  ruff  and  fringe  on  thighs.  A  type  between  this  is  preferred, 
and  as  most  of  my  best  specimens  have  come  from  Antwerp,  I  am  inclined  to 
think  that  this  town  deserves  to  give  its  name  to  the  type.  The  dog  that  is  now 
accepted  as  representative  weighs  about  ten  pounds,  is  a  glossy  black,  stands  up 
well  on  his  pins  with  an  air  of  vivacious  alertness;  he  looks  stoutly  built  in 
front  and  smaller  behind,  and  his  back  ends  like  the  rounded  hind  quarter  of  a 
guinea-pig.  His  head  is  foxy,  like  all  the  wild-dog  type;  ears  small,  narrow, 
pricked,  and  carried  upright  in  parallel  lines  on  the  top  of  the  head,  not  at 
the  sides.  Eyes  small  and  dark,  and  showing  no  white.  Neck  and  shoulders 
look  heavy,  partly  owing  to  the  thick  ruff;  legs  straight  and  smooth;  feet  cat- 
like; coat  very  harsh,  about  an  inch  long  on  the  back,  very  dense,  and  weather- 


THE   SCHIPPERKE.  669 

proof;  011  the  thigh  it  should  be  fringy.  The  Belgians  call  the  ruff  "criniere  " 
and  the  fringe  "culottes."  General  appearance  smart  and  intensely  vital. 
Temperament  restless,  full  of  curiosity,  and  overflowing  with  jealous  affection. 
The  tail  question  will  be  a  troublesome  one  for  some  time  to  come.  I  am 
satisfied  that  the  breed  in  its  best  days  was  tailless;  in  time,  mating  was  per- 
formed with  no  care  or  discrimination.  Caudal  appendages  put  in  an  appear- 
ance, but  there  are,  to  my  certain  knowledge,  numbers  of  Schipperkes  that 
have  been  born  without  a  sign  of  a  tail,  and  there  are  plenty  of  bitches  which 
give  birth  to  several  such  puppies  in  every  litter.  With  judicious  breeding 
and  docking  the  breed  will  no  doubt,  in  time,  recover  this  characteristic. 

A  majority  of  the  puppies  are  born  with  a  small  tail, 
which,  if  left  on,  curls  up  somewhat  like  that  of  the  Pug. 
It  is  fashionable,  and  it  becomes  the  style  of  the  dog,  to 
have  the  tail  docked  when  the  puppy  is  quite  young;  the 
fringe  of  hair,  or  "culottes,"  which  is  natural  to  the 
rump  and  thighs,  gives  the  animal  a  neater  appearance  than 
that  of  any  dog  with  the  natural  tail.  In  rare  cases  a 
puppy  is  born  tailless. 

The  chest  is  rather  wide,  and  is  well  furnished  with  coat, 
which  is  of  about  the  same  length  as  that  on  the  neck,  and 
rather  harsh  to  the  touch. 

The  hair  on  a  grown  dog  should  be  two  inches  long,  and 
should  be  straight  on  top  of  the  neck — standing  up  only 
when  the  dog  is  excited.  On  the  sides  and  under  part  of 
neck  it  should  be  of  about  same  length,  and  should  grow 
so  as  to  give  the  appearance  of  a  ruffle  on  the  throat.  The 
hair  is  shorter  on  the  sides  of  the  body,  but  nearly  as  long 
on  the  line  of  the  back  as  on  top  of  the  neck.  On  the 
rump  and  thighs  it  should  be  as  long  as  on  the  neck,  and 
should  grow  so  as  to  make  a  fringe  over  the  stern  and 
thighs.  The  fore  legs  should  be  straight,  and  covered  with 
straight  hair;  the  feet  should  be  round  and  cat-like.  On 
hind  legs  the  stifles  curve  forward  and  the  hocks  backward; 
the  thighs  are  fringed  with  long  hair  to  the  hock. 

The  coat  should  be  rather  firm  and  resisting  to  the  touch, 
and  lying  straight  on  head,  ears,  top  of  neck,  sides,  back, 
on  fore  legs,  and  on  hind  legs  below  the  hock. 

No  scale  of  points  has  yet  been  adopted  for  judging  the 
Schipperke  in  this  country. 


SOME  CANINE  DISEASES  AND  THEIR  REMEDIES. 

BY  DR.  J.  FRANK  PERRY  ("ASHMONT"). 


MANGE   AND    ECZEMA. 

OIERE  are  two,  and  but  two,  kinds  of  mange;  and 
although  it  is  popularly  considered  common  among 
dogs,  such  is  not  the  case.  It  is  comparatively  rare, 
and  what  is  generally  mistaken  for  it  is  eczema.  To  the 
latter,  man  is  also  a  frequent  victim.  Many  people  know  it 
only  by  its  old-fashioned  name — salt-rheum. 

It  is  important  that  dog-owners  be  sufficiently  familiar 
with  the  appearances  presented  in  the  three  skin  diseases, 
so  often  confounded,  to  distinguish  between  them;  for  each 
there  is  a  distinct  line  of  treatment,  which  is  successful  only 
in  the  special  disease.  Both  forms  of  mange  are  purely 
local  parasitic  diseases,  whereas  eczema,  in  many  instances, 
has  a  constitutional  origin,  and  from  this  fact  it  readily 
appears  how  absolutely  useless  it  would  often  be  to  apply 
the  treatment  of  one  to  the  other. 

The  most  common  form  of  mange  is  the  u  sarcoptic,"  the 
actual  existing  cause  of  which  is  a  minute  and  almost 
microscopic  insect.  This  parasite  draws  nourishment  from 
the  skin  and  causes  intense  itching,  which,  in  turn,  incites 
scratching  and  develops  the  disease  known  as  eczema.  The 
male  insect  remains  on  or  near  the  surface  of  the  skin, 
while  the  female  digs  into  the  deeper  and  softer  layers,  and 
burrows  until  she  dies,  which  is  generally  in  three  or  four 
months.  Along  the  tunnel  which  she  makes  she  deposits 
one  egg  after  another,  blocking  up  the  passage  with  them. 
The  young  are  hatched  in  about  two  weeks.  The  number 
of  eggs  one  female  lays  is  nearly  fifty.  As  soon  as  the 
young  are  sufficiently  developed  and  are  released  from  the 

(671) 


672  THE   AMERICAN   BOOK   OF   THE   DOG. 

furrows,  they  run  over  the  surface,  and  the  females  among 
them  soon  begin  to  tunnel  like  their  mothers  before  them. 
The  itching  occasioned  by  these  parasites  is  intolerable. 
Around  the  furrows  made  by  them  there  forms,  first,  small 
pimples,  which  soon  change  to  vesicles  and  pustules,  that 
discharge  a  bloody  matter,  which  dries  into  thick  crusts. 
These  practically  close  up  the  furrows,  but  the  itching 
causes  the  sufferer  to  scratch,  and  the  coverings  are  torn 
off  by  the  nails  and  the  young  insects  set  free. 

Treatment  is  really  the  most  effective  means  of  diagnosis 
for  the  non-professional,  unaccustomed  to  the  use  of  the 
microscope,  by  which  alone  can  all  doubts  be  dispelled. 
Fortunately,  the  one  popular  application  for  all  skin 
diseases  of  dogs  is  sulphur  and  lard,  and  this,  when  prop- 
erly-applied, will  destroy  the  insect  which  causes  sarcoptic 
mange.  Without  knowing  just  its  action,  almost  every  dog- 
owner  is  familiar  with  this  remedy,  and  when  his  pet  "gets 
to  scratching,"  and  the  skin  is  torn  in  consequence,  he  uses 
the  sulphur  first  of  all  remedies.  He  may  not  cure  the  dog 
of  the  eruption,  but  very  often  if  the  mange  insect  is  present 
he  destroys  that,  and  simply  a  case  of  eczema  is  left.  Owing 
to  the  popularity  of  this  treatment,  there  is  much  less 
sarcoptic  mange  than  there  otherwise  would  be,  and  where 
it  breaks  out  it  is  usually  soon  combated.  Sulphur,  when 
rightly  used,  is  harmless.  In  making  it  into  an  ointment 
the  proportions  should  be  about  one  tea-spoonful  of  sulphur 
to  a  table-spoonful  of  lard.  This  can  be  best  mixed  with  a 
case-knife  on  a  plate,  by  a  process  of  kneading.  Before 
applying  the  ointment  it  is  always  well  to  give  the  dog  a 
warm  bath.  Excepting  in  the  hottest  weather,  of  course,  he 
must  remain  in  a  warm  room  for  several  hours  afterward.  In 
fact,  while  under  treatment  it  would  be  well  to  keep  the 
patient  in  warm  quarters.  If  the  skin  is  very  "raw,"  the 
rubbing  in  the  bath  and  subsequently  must  be  very  gentle, 
otherwise  the  skin  will  be  much  inflamed.  A  bath  of  ten 
or  fifteen  minutes  will  suffice  to  soften  the  skin;  soap  may 
be  used  to  secure  cleanliness.  After  the  dog  has  been  dried 
by  the  gentle  use  of  towels,  the  ointment  should  be  thor- 


SOME   CANINE   DISEASES    AND   THEIR   REMEDIES.        673 

oughly  rubbed  into  the  skin,  every  part  of  the  body,  neck, 
and  even  head,  where  possible,  being  treated.  This  should 
be  done  every  night  for  ten  days.  If  he  is  a  house-dog,  he 
should  be  well  washed  every  morning,  for  obvious  reasons, 
but  the  sulphur  and  lard  should  be  applied  again  at  night. 
If  sarcoptic  mange  is  present,  the  insects  ought  to  all  be 
destroyed  by  the  fifth  or  sixth  day;  to  continue  the  appli- 
cation is,  however,  advisable,  to  make  sure.  After  this 
treatment  has  been  administered,  one  may  be  reasonably 
certain  that  his  dog  has  not  the  form  of  mange  in  question, 
and  if  an  eruption  remains,  the  chances  are  it  is  eczema,  or 
the  other  form  of  mange,  which  will  next  be  described. 

Everyone  who  has  seen  a  case  of  what  is  known  as 
barber's  itch  can  readily  understand  the  appearances  pre- 
sented by  the  least  common  form  of  mange,  the  ' '  f ollicu- 
lar."  This  affection  runs  the  same  course,  with  identically 
the  same  phenomena,  as  is  observed  in  the  parasitic  sycosis 
of  the  human  race.  Again,  it  is  known  that  follicular 
mange  in  the  dog,  and  a  kindred  disease  in  the  cat,  has  been 
communicated  to  man,  and  in  him  given  rise  to  parasitic 
sycosis.  Further  proof  of  the  analogy  of  these  diseases  has 
been  presented  by  the  microscope;  under  it  there  has  been 
found,  on  the  roots  of  the  hairs  drawn  from  a  dog  suffering 
from  follicular  mange,  the  same  form  of  parasite  which 
causes  parasitic  sycosis  in  man. 

It  is  evident  that,  with  but  one  exception,  writers  on 
canine  diseases  have  been  satisfied  to  accept,  unquestioned, 
an  old  theory  that  the  form  of  mange  under  consideration 
was  caused  by  an  animal  parasite,  called  the  acarus  fol- 
liculorum,  which  is  identical  with  a  parasite,  bearing  the 
same  scientific  name,  in  man.  This  harmless  animal, 
known  also  as  the  "  pimple  mite,"  everyone  is  familiar  with, 
having  pressed  them  from  the  face  and  nose,  inclosed  in 
little  cylinders  of  cheese-like  substance  with  black  heads, 
the  latter  being  accumulations  of  dust  and  dirt.  Owing  to 
their  resemblance  to  maggots,  these  deposits — the  natural 
contents  of  the  sebaceous  glands — are  considered  worms  by 
the  ignorant,  who  denominate  them  skin  or  face  worms. 

43 


674  THE  AMERICAN   BOOK   OF   THE   DOG. 

Now,  instead  of  an  animal  parasite  being  the  cause  of 
follicular  mange,  for  the  reason  given,  there  is  every  reason 
to  believe  that  the  form  of  parasite  present  is  a  vegetable 
one — a  mold-fungus  which  attaches  itself  to  the  roots  of 
the  hair  and  does  the  mischievous  work. 

The  appearances  presented  in  follicular  mange  are  these: 
There  is  first  an  inflammation  about  the  roots  of  a  larger 
or  smaller  number  of  hairs;  usually  but  few  show  the 
affection  in  the  beginning.  The  skin  around  the  affected 
hairs  feels  hot  to  the  touch,  is  red  and  slightly  swollen. 
Then,  pimples  form  in  this  region,  the  hairs  soon  fall  out, 
and  pustules  appear.  These  latter  are  flat,  and  run  together. 
They  soon  discharge  their  contents,  and  scabs  are  formed; 
they  in  turn  harden,  crack  open,  and  bleed  slightly. 

When  once  the  disease  appears,  it  extends  rapidly.  The 
animal  becomes  repulsive,  not  only  in  appearance,  but  it 
gives  off  an  exceedingly  offensive  odor.  There  is  little  if 
any  itching;  the  pain  from  the  eruption  is  considerable. 
Any  portion  of  the  body  may  be  attacked,  but  the  affection 
usually  appears  first  on  the  head.  The  general  health,  as 
might  be  expected,  soon  suffers,  and  there  is  rapid  loss  of 
weight,  with  progressive  debility. 

Follicular  mange  can  be  cured,  but  improvement,  even 
under  the  best  treatment  possible,  is  slow,  and  recovery  is 
obstinately  resisted.  When  once  the  disease  has  made 
much  progress,  the  chances  are  that  it  will  take  six  or  eight 
months  to  cure  it.  Besides  the  eruption,  the  loss  of  hair 
causes  great  disfigurement;  if  a  cure  is  accomplished,  the 
hair  will  grow  again,  but  a  long  time  will  elapse  before  it 
does  so.  If  a  dog  not  highly  prized  be  attacked  with  this 
disease,  and  it  has  made  considerable  progress,  it  would  be 
a  humane  act  to  "  put  him  out  of  the  way."  The  necessary 
treatment  few  would  care  to  undertake,  unless  the  dog  be  a 
valuable  one,  because  frequent  washings  and  applications 
must  be  made.  Those  who  do  not  love  their  pets  well 
enough  to  give  them  the  best  of  care,  ought  to  sacrifice 
them  at  once  if  attacked  with  this  loathsome  form  of 
mange. 


SOME   CANINE  DISEASES   AND   THEIR   REMEDIES.        675 

To  the  credit  of  dog-owners,  be  it  said,  that  even  this 
misfortune  would  not  be  sufficient  to  induce  many  of  them 
to  take  such  a  step;  therefore  the  treatment  demanded 
for  the  disease  will  be  advised.  Here  it  will  be  well  to 
say  that,  for  obvious  reasons,  it  is  best  for  everyone  to 
carefully  examine  his  dog  once  a  day,  and  if  he  finds  an 
eruption  resembling  at  all  follicular  mange  he  should  apply 
treatment  without  delay.  If  there  are  only  two  or  three 
affected  spots,  let  him  obtain  from  his  druggist  a  mixture 
made  up  of  Canada  balsam  and  carbolic  acid,  of  each  one 
or  two  drachms.  Into  this  dip  a  wooden  toothpick,  and 
what  remains  deposited  on  it  rub  well  into  the  affected  spot. 
Treat  each  pustule  in  this  way,  and  afterward  generously 
dust  on  dry  sulphur.  As  a  rule,  this  application  will  kill 
the  disease  at  the  particular  points.  As  new  pustules 
appear,  let  them  be  treated  in  the  same  way. 

This  disease  is  rarely  discovered  early;  more  often  it  has 
made  considerable  headway  before  attention  is  attracted  to 
it.  When  this  is  the  case,  clip  the  hair  closely  around  the 
eruption,  and  wash  the  dog  quickly  with  the  strongest  form 
of  carbolic  soap.  Rinse  with  clear  water.  Before  doing 
this,  however,  if  crusts  have  formed,  linseed-oil  or  lard 
should  be  freely  used  the  night  before,  to  soften  them. 
After  washing,  apply  the  balsam  and  carbolic  acid  as  de- 
scribed; but  it  will  not  do  to  make  the  application  over 
too  great  a  surface  at  any.  one  time,  for  fear  of  poisonous 
absorption.  On  a  large  dog  one  might  safely  apply  a  thin 
coating  of  the  remedy  to  a  spot  the  size  of  a  silver  dollar; 
having  done  so,  he  should  wait  two  or  three  hours,  and 
attack  another  spot;  then  again  wait,  and  so  on.  In  this 
way,  in  a  day  or  two  the  entire  eruption,  even  if  extensive, 
can  be  acted  upon.  After  the  pustule  has  been  touched 
with  the  balsam  and  acid,  and  been  dusted  as  recommended, 
no  further  treatment  at  that  point  is,  as  a  rule,  needed,  for 
rapid  healing  takes  place.  If  the  case  is  a  severe  one,  and 
there  is  need  to  wash  the  sufferer  from  time  to  time,  all 
badly  inflamed  spots  which  appear  after  the  operation 
should  be  touched  as  advised. 


676  THE  AMERICAN   BOOK   OF  THE  DOG. 

Lice,  fleas,  etc.,  and  in  fact  everything  which  comes  in 
contact  with  the  skin  and  sets  a  dog  to  scratching,  are 
numbered  among  the  local  causes  of  eczema.  It  is  also 
induced  by  heat  and  moisture;  hence,  long-haired  dogs 
almost  always  suffer  more  or  less  from  it  in  hot  weather. 
Even  water  will  provoke  it  if  entered  too  often.  .  Again, 
there  are  a  variety  of  medicines  which,  when  applied  to  the 
skin,  bring  out  an  eczematous  eruption.  Nearly  all  stimu- 
lating liniments  contain  ammonia,  turpentine,  or  arnica, 
which  will  do  this;  so  also  will  kerosene-oil.  Hunting  dogs, 
which  are  much  in  their  kennels  and  only  taken  out  occa- 
sionally, and  then  given  hard  runs,  during  which  they 
sweat  excesssively,  are  quite  likely  to  have  eczema. 

Of  constitutional  causes  which  may  give  rise  to  eczema, 
there  are  many;  but,  unfortunately,  they  are  not  so  well 
understood  as  the  local  ones  already  described.  Probably 
to  errors  in  feeding  is  the  disease  most  often  due.  Since 
redeemed  from  his  wild  state  the  dog  has  been  fed  on  a  diet 
into  which  vegetables  and  starchy  foods  have  entered 
largely.  Perhaps  if  the  proper  proportion  of  them  and 
of  meat  could  be  determined,  a  mixed  diet  would  be  found 
best  suited  to  him;  but,  as  the  result  of  experience,  it  is 
evident  that  his  diet  should  contain  an  excess  of  meat. 
When  such  is  not  the  case,  we  find  him,  as  a  rule,  showing 
in  some  way  its  need. 

When  fed  largely  on  starchy  foods,  some  dogs,  it  is  true, 
seem  to  keep  in  good  condition,  but  many  others  on  such  a 
diet  sooner  or  later  show  that  they  are  below  the  standard 
of  health.  They  are  not  only  less  strong  and  enduring,  but 
are  generally  the  victims  of  some  ailment,  and  usually  of 
the  digestive  system.  Why  those  organs  are  most  often 
affected  it  is  not  difficult  to  understand.  While  starchy 
foods  may  furnish  nearly  all  the  elements  necessary  to  sup- 
ply tissue  waste  and  keep  active  the  vital  processes,  many 
of  them  are  not  rich  in  such,  and  with  most  of  them  too 
large  quantities  must  be  eaten  to  obtain  all  the  essentials  to 
support  nutrition.  To  make  clear  the  meaning  of  this 
statement  we  will  instance  one  of  man' s  popular  foods  and 


SOME   CANINE  DISEASES   AND   THEIR   REMEDIES.        677 

its  nutritive  value.  Eggs  contain  all  the  elements  needed 
to  sustain  Mm,  but  if  they  were  alone  depended  upon  the 
large  number  necessary  to  supply  one  important  nutritive 
principle  would  overload  the  system  with  other  elements. 
Hence,  of  course,  if  one  limited  himself  strictly  to  an  egg 
diet  he  would  die,  although  he  obtained  therefrom  all  his 
system  actually  needed  in  the  way  of  support. 

It  will  appear  from  the  foregoing  that  if  a  dog  is  given 
too  much  starchy  food  he  is  quite  certain,  sooner  or  later, 
to  have  dyspepsia,  which  trouble  is  one  of  the  most  com- 
mon causes  of  eczema.  Some  have  thought  an  excess  of 
meat  capable  of  exciting  this  skin  affection.  Evidently 
the  theory  is  inferential — drawn  from  the  effect  of  such  a 
diet  on  man.  It  certainly  creates  in  him  an  eczematous 
tendency,  but  there  is  no  reason  to  believe  that  it  has  the 
same  effect  on  the  dog.  Far  from  it;  meat  is  so  essential  in 
the  treatment  of  eczema,  it  must  be  considered  a  remedial 
agent  of  the  first  importance.  Not  only  is  what  is  known 
as  dyspepsia  a  cause  of  the  disease  in  question,  but  all  dis- 
turbances of  the  stomach  and  intestines  are  capable  of  pro- 
ducing it. 

Dogs  are  singularly  subject  to  worms,  which,  while  not 
causing  any  special  trouble  in  some  instances,  yet  in  others 
give  rise  to  quite  serious  symptoms,  and  to  them  eczema  is 
often  due.  Poverty  of  the  blood  is  not  uncommon  in  dogs, 
and  it  is  quite  sure  to  exist  in  those  which  have  for  a  consid- 
erable time  been  improperly  fed.  It  shows  itself  in  the 
mucous  membranes,  and  these,  instead  of  being  of  the  rich 
red  color,  are  pale.  Eczema  naturally  occurs  in  such  cases 
as  a  complication.  It  also  often  appears  in  young  puppies 
and  their  dams.  It  is  liable  to  come  on  in  the  course  of  any 
disease  which  runs  the  dog  low  in  flesh  and  strength.  In 
fact,  whenever  the  general  health  is  impaired,  whatever  be 
the  cause,  an  eruption  of  eczema  is  likely  to  occur. 

That  the  disease  is  hereditary  there  is  good  reason  to 
believe.  It  does  not  necessarily  follow  that  if  the  sire  or 
dam  has  had  eczema,  it  must  necessarily  be  carried  on  to 
the  next  generation.  One  would  not  expect  this  if  the 


678  THE   AMEEICAN  BOOK   OF  THE  DOG. 

disease  were  due  purely  to  local  causes,  such  as  parasites; 
but  when  constitutional  in  either  parent,  then  the  chances 
are  that  the  progeny  will  show  a  decided  tendency  to  the 
affection.  Whether  the  seeds  of  the  disease,  or  whether  the 
conditions  of  the  system  which  invite  its  occurrence,  are 
transmitted  is  not,  of  course,  known.  But  this  fact  is 
settled,  a  puppy  with  an  eczematous  sire  or  dam  is  likely  to 
be  marked  with  the  same  defect;  and  if  he  is,  as  the  result 
of  hereditary  taint,  then  he  is  comparatively  worthless,  for 
in  him  the  disease  will  always  be  intractable,  and  if 
removed,  it  will  be  especially  liable  to  return.  This  fact 
should  be  given  due  weight  in  purchasing  dogs. 

Both  local  and  internal  treatment  are  demanded  in 
eczema.  If  it  is  due  to  parasites,  fleas,  mange,  etc.,  then 
those  troubles  must  be  removed,  and  when  they  are,  the 
eczema  is  very  likely  to  disappear  of  itself.  In  many 
cases  it  is  difficult  to  determine  just  what  the  internal 
cause  is  which  excites  it.  If  it  can  be  made  out,  treatment 
should,  of  course,  be  directed  to  its  removal.  When  in 
doubt,  the  following  general  line  of  treatment  should  be 
followed  :  Feed  the  dog  largely  on  meat,  and  at  least  once 
a  day  give  him  a  little  raw  after  he  has  taken  his  other 
food.  If  thin  in  flesh,  codliver-oil  is  recommended,  and  the 
dose  for  one  of  the  largest  breeds  of  dogs  is  one  table-spoon- 
ful three  times  daily,  mixed  with  his  food  if  he  will  take 
it  so;  if  not,  it  should  be  poured  into  him  clear.  Dogs 
which  are  too  fat  frequently  have  eczema,  and  in  such  cases, 
of  course,  the  quantity  of  food  should  be  restricted  and 
more  exercise  enforced.  In  the  local  treatment,  frequent 
washings  have  an  important  place.  The  soaps  used  should 
not  be  irritating;  pure  castile  and  carbolic  soaps  are  the 
best.  If  the  skin  is  much  inflamed,  the  former  should  be 
selected.  In  washing,  one  must  be  very  gentle,  for  hard 
rubbing  is  sure  to  make  the  disease  worse.  After  being 
carefully  dried,  if  the  eruption  covers  a  large  surface,  sul- 
phur and  lard — a  tea-spoonful  of  the  former  to  a  table- 
spoonful  of  the  latter— should  be  gently  applied. 

There  are  many  other  applications  which  would  be  more 


SOME   CANINE  DISEASES   AND   THEIR   REMEDIES.        679 

efficacious,  but  none  are  as  safe,  considering  the  fact  that 
the  animal  is  sure  to  lap  off  much  'of  anything  put  on. 
This  simple  external  treatment,  when  combined  with  the 
internal  already  advised,  if  faithfully  persisted  in,  will 
often  effect  a  cure. 

Eczema  is  not  contagious,  but  in  certain  stages,  where 
there  is  much  fluid  thrown  out  by  the  eruption,  the  disease 
can  be  communicated  by  actual  contact.  A  sound  dog  shar- 
ing the  kennel  of  one  affected  is  very  likely  to  contract  it. 
This  is  one  reason  why  eczema  is  so  liable  to  be  mistaken 
for  mange. 

In  brief,  how  can  one  distinguish  between  sarcoptic 
mange,  eczema,-  which  is  liable  to  be  confounded,  and 
follicular  mange?  This  is  by  no  means  easy.  In  the  first 
two  diseases  mentioned  there  is  intense  itching,  while  in 
the  last  it  is  slight  or  wholly  absent.  There  is  a  decided 
difference  in  the  appearance  of  the  eruption,  but  a  non- 
professional  is  scarcely  likely  to  note  it,  so  other  distinct- 
ive symptoms  must  suffice.  Follicular  mange  is  a  rapidly 
progressive  disease;  loss  of  weight  is  quickly  evident;  the 
pustules,  as  described,  are  peculiar;  and,  again,  there  is 
the  offensive  odor,  which  is  not  a  symptom  in  either  of 
the  other  diseases  noted.  The  sulphur  treatment,  which  is 
curative  in  the  other  form  of  mange,  has  little  or  no  effect 
whatever  in  this. 

DISTEMPER, 

The  belief  that  every  dog  must  have  this  disease  is  a 
popular  one,  as  is  the  delusion  that  every  child  is  fated  to 
suffer  from  scarlet  fever,  measles,  whooping-cough,  and  the 
like.  As  in  all  infectious  diseases,  distemper  is  prevent- 
able and  might  be  stamped  out  of  existence;  but  its  nature, 
the  ways  in  which  it  is  transmitted,  and  the  essential  means 
of  prevention,  are  but  little  understood  by  the  average  dog- 
owner.  Considering  these  facts,  also  that  it  is  highly  in- 
fectious, it  is  not  surprising  that  a  large  proportion  of  dogs 
sometime  in  their  lives  fall  victims  to  the  malady. 

Distemper  never  occurs  in  a  dog  unless  he  takes  it, 
directly  or  indirectly,  from  another  dog  suffering  from  it. 


680  THE   AMERICAN   B6OK   OF   THE   DOG. 

In  other  words,  for  every  case  of  the  disease  there  must  be 
a  previous  case,  as  is  true  of  small-pox,  typhoid  fever,  scar- 
let fever,  measles,  and  many  other  infectious  diseases 
peculiar  to  the  human  race.  It  has  long  been  held  that  dis- 
temper is  a  "germ  disease."  To  Mr.  Everett  Mallais,  of 
London,  is  due  the  high  honor  of  substantiating  this 
theory.  This  painstaking  investigator  carried  out  a  series 
of  bacteriological  observations  and  experiments  and  proved 
that  the  disease  is  due  to  the  presence  of  one  or  more  micro- 
organisms. 

Many  writers  have  likened  distemper  to  typhoid  fever 
of  man,  and  yet  there  is  no  close  analogy  between  them.  It 
far  more  closely  resembles  typhus  fever,  which  evidently 
belongs  to  the  same  class  of  diseases  as  distemper,  and  the 
essential  germs  of  each  appear  to  be  transmitted  and  propa- 
gated in  much  the  same  manner.  Again,  the  incubation 
period,  the.  febrile  stage,  the  duration,  the  self -limitation, 
and  many  characteristic  symptoms,  are  alike  peculiar  to 
both. 

If  a  dog  has  distemper,  he  can  communicate  it  to  another 
dog  which  comes  in  contact  with  him;  but  there  is  good 
reason  for  believing  that  actual  contact  is  not  necessary  for 
the  transmission  of  the  disease,  and  that  the  specific  germ 
or  microbe  attaches  itself  to  various  substances,  and  in  this 
way  is  transported.  If  the  drinking  or  feeding  basin, 
blanket,  bedding,  collar,  or  even  chain,  in  use  by  a  sufferer 
from  distemper  be  put  into  the  kennel  of  a  sound  dog  who 
has  not  had  the  disease,  the  chances  are  many  that  he  will 
become  infected.  The  germs  cling  tenaciously  to  wood- 
work, and  the  portable  benches  used  in  dog  shows  are  held 
to  be  peculiarly  favorable  to  contagion,  more  especially 
because  it  is  difficult  to  thoroughly  disinfect  them;  and 
where  a  large  number  of  dogs  meet  at  bench  shows,  dis- 
temper germs  are  extremely  likely  to  find  entrance.  They 
may  be  conveyed  by  a  victim  of  the  disease  in  its  commenc- 
ing stage,  or  they  may  be  introduced  by  an  unaffected  dog 
—in  his  hair,  blanket,  crate,  or  some  other  belonging— from 
a  kennel  in  which  the  disease  is  raging  or  has  recently 


SOME   CANINE   DISEASES   AND   THEIR   REMEDIES.        681 

existed.  Considering  this  fact,  bench  shows  are  rightly 
held  to  be  a  menace  to  puppies.  Age  appears  to  lessen  the 
susceptibility  to  the  disease,  and  matured  dogs  are  much 
less  liable  to  become  infected  than  those  in  early  life. 

The  symptoms  of  distemper  begin  to  present  themselves 
in  from  four  to  fourteen  days  after  exposure  to  contagion. 
Generally  the  first  noted  are  dullness,  a  disinclination  to 
exertion,  partial  loss  of  appetite,  and  chilly  sensations, 
which  are  indicated  by  shiverings.  Then  rapidly  follow  the 
manifestations  of  a  common  cold — sneezing,  dry,  husky 
cough,  and  a  discharge  from  the  nose  and  eyes.  The  dis- 
charge is  at  first  purulent,  gluing  the  eyelids  together  and 
drying  around  the  nostrils  in  crusts.  There  is  also  more  or 
less  fever,  which  is  noticeable  when  the  back  of  the  hand 
is  placed  between  the  thighs. 

If  the  attack  be  severe,  the  animal  grows  duller  and  more 
indifferent;  he  does  not  rouse  easily,  and  when  on  his  feet 
is  listless  and  hangs  his  head.  He  may  walk  about  a  little, 
but  soon  tires,  lies  down,  and  dozes  off  into  an  unquiet 
sleep.  Every  part  of  his  system  is  involved  by  the  disease. 
Vomiting  is  not  uncommon.  Diarrhea  is  a  frequent  symp- 
tom, the  result  of  inflammation  of  the  bowels,  to  which 
there  is  a  marked  tendency  in  this  affection.  Inflammation 
of  the  air-passages  is  also  characteristic  of  it,  and  is  indi- 
cated by  cough  and  quickened  breathing. 

Complications  are  liable  to  occur  in  distemper,  there- 
fore its  course  can  never  be  anticipated  with  certainty.  If 
favorable,  the  dog  begins  to  show  a  little  improvement  in 
the  course  of  a  week,  and  recovery  is  complete  at  the  end 
of  the  third  week.  In  cases  running  to  a  fatal  termination, 
death  usually  occurs  before  the  fifteenth  day.  Other  symp- 
toms than  these  frequently  appear,  but  to  describe  them 
would  be  to  invite  confusion,  and  we  purposely  confine 
ourselves  to  those  which  can  be  considered  typical. 

The  victim  of  distemper  should  be  put  into  a  room  by 
himself.  It  should  be  dry  and  well  ventilated.  Pure  air  is 
of  the  greatest  importance.  In  cold  weather  a  fire  will  be 
needed  in  the  room,  which  should  not,  however,  be  kept  too 


682  THE   AMERICAN   BOOK    OF   THE   DOG. 

warm.  The  air  within  should  be  impregnated  with  some 
disinfectant.  Chloride  of  lime  is  as  good  as  any.  It  owes 
its  merit  to  the  free  chlorine  gas  which  it  contains  and  gives 
off  slowly  in  the  air.  To  the  germs  of  disease  it  is  some- 
thing of  an  enemy,  although  not  a  powerful  one.  To  have 
any  decided  effect  in  distemper  it  must  be  used  freely,  and 
large  pans  or  shallow  boxes  should  be  filled  with  it  and 
placed  about  the  room. 

The  animal  should  be  kept  quiet,  and  not  encouraged  to 
move  around  much.  A  constant  supply  of  pure  drinking- 
water  is  essential.  It  is  a  matter  of  the  greatest  conse- 
quence that  the  patient  be  well  nourished,  and  this  fact 
should  be  kept  in  view  from  the  first.  During  the  early 
stage  of  the  disease  the  patient  is  likely  to  eat  sparingly  of 
milk  or  broths,  and  what  is  taken  voluntarily,  if  in  any 
considerable  quantity,  will  suffice.  After  two  or  three 
days,  the  appetite  will  probably,  nearly,  if  not  entirely, 
disappear.  Generally  the  last  food  to  be  refused  is  raw 
beef,  which  is  allowable  if  scraped  and  given  in  quantities 
of  one  or  two  table-spoonfuls  every  two  hours. 

Total  loss  of  appetite  may  sooner  or  later  be  expected 
in  the  majority  of  cases,  in  which  event  nourishment  must 
be  administered  by  force— judgment,  of  course,  being  used 
in  estimating  the  quantity  necessary  to  support  the  strength. 
Milk,  and  lime-water,  and  strong  beef -tea  are  mainly  to  be 
relied  upon.  About  a  cupful  of  either  should  be  poured 
down  the  patient's  throat  at  least  four  times  a  day,  and 
oftener  if  he  is  rapidly  losing  flesh  and  strength.  Raw 
eggs  are  easy  of  digestion;  one  may  be  added  to  each  cup- 
ful of  beef -tea  or  milk  if  these  agents  alone  do  not  appear 
to  be  sufficiently  supportive. 

Beef -tea  and  meat-liquids  of  a  kindred  nature  can  prop- 
erly be  considered  restorative  and  stimulant,  but  not  nutri- 
tive. It  is  popularly  supposed  that  in  making  them  the 
nourishing  qualities  of  the  meat  are  extracted  by  the  water, 
and  that  the  dry,  hard  remnant  of  meat  fiber  which  remains 
undissolved  is  exhausted  of  its  nutritive  properties.  This 
is  almost  always  thrown  away,  and  thus  the  most  valuable 


SOME   CANINE   DISEASES   AND   THEIE   REMEDIES.        683 

constituents  are  sacrificed,  and  the  liquid  which  is  care- 
fully preserved  contains  so  little  in  the  way  of  sustenance 
that  it  is  almost  worthless.  The  remnant  actually  contains 
nearly  all  the  real  virtue  of  the  meat.  If  this  be  reduced  to 
a  paste  by  pounding  in  a  mortar,  and  is  then  added  to  the 
liquid  in  which  it  is  cooked,  beef-tea  so  prepared  is  not 
only  highly  nourishing,  but  is  also  easy  of  digestion.  The 
criticisms  on  beef -tea,  as  commonly  made,  apply  equally  to 
extracts  of  meats  and  meat- juices,  and  to  similar  prepa- 
rations for  sale  by  druggists;  they  are  all  devoid  of  the 
so-called  albuminous  constituents— the  nutritious  elements. 
It  should  also  be  remembered  that  beef -tea  is  slightly 
laxative;  therefore  it  should  be  withheld  if  a  dog  has 
diarrhea. 

As  long  as  the  patient  appears  to  be  doing  well  under 
this  dietetic  treatment,  it  will,  of  course,  be  unmistakable 
evidence  of  its  efficacy.  If  the  case  is  a  desperate  one, 
signs  of  failure  will  be  plainly  evident  after  the  first  week. 
When  the  diet  already  advised  does  not  sustain  him,  stim- 
ulants must  be  resorted  to;  and  if  the  owner  is  in  doubt 
whether  or  not  they  are  needed,  he  should  assume  the 
affirmative  and  give  them.  Unless  the  case  is  urgent,  he 
should  begin  with  one  or  two  tea-spoonfuls  of  sherry  wine, 
adding  the  same  to  each  cupful  of  food.  After  a  day  or 
two  the  quantity  of  wine  should  be  increased  to  a  table- 
spoonful.  If  failure  of  strength  and  emaciation  are  pro- 
gressive, brandy  must  be  substituted  for  the  sherry  wine, 
and  the  doses  gradually  increased  as  before.  In  cases  of 
simple  distemper,  excessive  stimulation  will  rarely,  indeed, 
be  indicated;  it  is  where  other  diseases  occur  during  its 
course  that  it  is  most  often  needed. 

The  discharge  from  the  nose  and  eyes  should  never  be 
allowed  to  accumulate,  but  should  be  removed  with  a  sponge 
wet  with  a  solution  of  borax  and  water.  Constipation  is  an 
occasional  symptom,  and  is  far  less  to  be  feared  than  diar- 
rhea. To  overcome  the  former,  an  injection  of  soap-suds  is 
all  that  can  be  safely  administered;  cathartics,  as  a  rule, 
are  dangerous.  If  there  is  constipation,  it  is  best  to  give 


684  THE   AMERICAN   BOOK   OF   THE  DOG. 

an  injection  every  two  or  three  days,  to  obviate  the  tend- 
ency to  brain  trouble,  which  exists  in  all  severe  cases. 

When  beef -tea  and  milk  are  vomited,  scraped  raw  beef 
should  be  relied  upon.  It  should  be  rolled  up  in  the  hand 
and  given  in  pill  form.  Even  this  is  sometimes  vomited. 
If  so,  the  nourishment  for  a  time  should  be  limited  to  the 
whites  of  raw  eggs,  which  practically  require  no  digestion 
and  are  almost  immediately  absorbed  by  the  stomach. 
A  table-spoonful,  or  more,  may  be  given  every  hour.  If 
vomiting  still  persists,  twenty  grains  of  the  subnitrate  of 
bismuth  should  be  given  every  three  or  four  hours.  It  can 
be  mixed  with  the  whites  of  eggs. 

No  remedy  has  ever  yet  been  discovered  which  will 
arrest  distemper.  The  disease  is  self -limited,  and  must  run 
its  course;  recovery  may  be  expected  if  no  accidents  in  the 
way  of  complications  occur.  In  other  words,  distemper  in 
itself  is  not  a  very  fatal  disease,  and  the  greatest  danger  to 
be  apprehended  is  from  associate  diseases  developed  during 
its  course.  In  the  way  of  treatment,  the  first  essential  is 
good  nursing;  and  that  is  really  about  all  that  is  needed  to 
pull  the  majority  of  patients  through.  In  fact,  were  it 
solely  depended  upon,  infinitely  fewer  deaths  would  occur 
in  distemper.  Drugging,  however,  is  the  rule,  and  undoubt- 
edly a  large  proportion  of  the  dogs  which  die  with  this 
disease  are  actually  killed  by  the  indiscriminate  use  of 
medicines. 

It  is  absolutely  impossible  to  define,  with  anything  like 
clearness,  a  medicinal  treatment  for  distemper.  No  remedy 
should  be  addressed  to  the  disease  itself,  but  where  one  is 
used  it  should  be  to  control  unfavorable  symptoms  which 
have  arisen.  In  other  words,  it  is  the  patient,  not  the 
disease,  which  should  be  treated;  and  while  in  some 
instances  drugs  assist  much,  they  alone  can  never  cure. 
Another  thing,  non -professionals  are  on  dangerous  ground 
while  using  them.  The  best  advice  which  we  can  give  is, 
confine  your  treatment  to  nursing.  Unfortunately,  how- 
ever, there  are  many  who  have  an  overweening  confidence 
in  drugs  and  will  insist  upon  using  them,  so  we  shall  briefly 


SOME  CANINE  DISEASES  AND   THEIR  REMEDIES.        685 

consider  the  medicinal  treatment  most  often  needed,  hoping 
by  so  doing  to  prevent  dosing  at  random. 

If  a  dog  when  first  attacked  has  high  fever,  the  following 
may  be  given:  Tincture  of  aconite  root,  thirty  drops; 
chlorate  of  potassium,  one  drachm ;  sweet  spirit  of  nitre,  one 
ounce;  water,  two  ounces.  Of  this  the  dose  for  a  dog  of 
large  size  is  one  tea-spoonful  once  in  two  hours  while  the 
fever  is  intense.  As  soon  as  it  subsides  the  medicine  should 
be  discontinued.  It  would  be  better  in  every  instance  to 
stop  it  at  the  end  of  the  second  day,  if  not  earlier. 

Subnitrate  of  bismuth,  in  twenty-grain  doses,  acts  well 
in  irritable  stomach,  and  may  be  given  in  persistent  vomit- 
ing, as  already  advised.  In  rare  cases  there  is  exhaustive 
diarrhea.  If  so,  a  tea-spoonful  of  paregoric  may  be  admin- 
istered once  in  from  four  to  six  hours.  If  there  are  no 
more  than  five  or  six  discharges  each  day,  no  treatment  will 
be  required;  in  fact,  a  slight  looseness  of  the  bowels  is 
salutary.  When  the  patient's  strength  appears  to  be  fail- 
ing, and  enforced  feeding  is  necessary,  it  will  be  well  to  give 
a  one-grain  quinine  pill  four  times  a  day. 

This  is  all  the  medicinal  treatment  which  we  can  prop- 
erly advise.  Again  we  say  to  him  who  is  unfortunate  and 
has  a  distemper  patient  to  care  for:  Depend  upon  nursing, 
and  use  drugs  only  when  their  need  is  absolute. 

After  convalescence  commences,  the  patient  should  still 
be  kept  quiet.  In  giving  him  a  more  generous  diet  as  he 
improves,  let  it  be  done  gradually,  for  to  bring  on  a  relapse 
is  always  easy. 

About  the  time  the  disease  ends  and  recovery  commences, 
an  eruptive  skin  disease  usually  appears;  it  is  a  favorable 
sign. 

Chorea,  or  twitching  of  certain  muscles,  usually  of  the 
legs,  is  a  common  after-effect  of  distemper.  It  is  a  very 
obstinate  affection,  and  treatment  is  rarely  successful. 
There  are  no  drugs  which  can  be  relied  upon  to  overcome 
it,  therefore  dosing  is  not  justifiable.  As  the  patient's 
general  health  improves,  the  trouble  in  question  may 
lessen.  Whether  it  does  so  or  not,  he  should  not  be 


686  THE  AMERICAN   BOOK   OF  THE   DOG 

punished  with  medicines,  for,  as  we  have  said,  they  will  do 
him  no  good. 

WORMS. 

Worms  are  a  common  enemy  to  dogs,  and  no  small  per 
cent,  of  puppies  die  from  this  cause.  As  to  how  they 
become  infested,  there  are  many  popular  theories,  the  gen- 
erally accepted  one  being  through  the  milk  fed  to  them 
after  having  been  weaned.  Why  cow's  milk  should  be 
accused  of  being  the  means  of  conveyance,  or  what  there  is 
about  it  to  create  worms,  no  one  seems  to  know.  It  is  one 
of  those  delusions,  without  a  grain  of  truth,  which  have 
been  handed  down  from  generation  to  generation,  and,  like 
all  other  such,  is  hard  to  dispel.  Cow's  milk,  either  fresh 
or  boiled,  never  causes  worms  in  dogs,  and,  hence,  can 
always  safely  be  given  them. 

The  worm  which  occasions  young  dogs  the  most  trouble 
is  the  lumbricoid,  a  round  worm  resembling  the  common 
earth-worm,  or  what  country  boys  call  the  "angle- worm." 
It  varies  in  length,  being  from  two  to  six  inches,  and  is  of 
a  pale  pink  color,  perfectly  round  in  shape,  and  tapers 
toward  each  extremity.  Probably  the  tape-worm  is  the  one 
which  troubles  old  dogs  the  most.  Although  there  are 
fully  a  score  or  more  different  forms  of  worms  which  infest 
the  canine  race— at  least  three-fourths  of  it  are  troubled 
with  them — these  two  varieties  are  all  that  it  is  necessary 
for  us  to  consider,  for  the  treatment,  the  point  we  shall 
dwell  upon,  is  much  the  same  in  all  cases. 

Round  worms  sometimes  come  up  into  the  stomach  and 
are  vomited,  but  more  often  they  are  passed  downward. 
When  they  are  present,  in  a  small  proportion  of  cases  they 
do  not  give  rise  to  any  marked  symptoms,  but  as  a  rule  they 
cause  no  little  disturbance;  and  that  they  do  sometimes  give 
rise  to  convulsions,  chorea,  paralysis,  and  certain  other  seri- 
ous affections  of  the  nervous  system,  is  a  well-known  fact. 
Frequently  puppies,  and  much  less  often  old  dogs,  partially 
lose  the  power  of  their  hind  legs,  and  rapidly  recover  as 
soon  as  a  discharge  of  the  worms  occurs.  In  a  puppy, 


SOME   CANINE  DISEASES   AND   THEIR  EEMEDIES.        687 

usually  the  first  symptoms  of  worms  to  attract  attention  is 
great  abdominal  distention  or  bloating.  No  sooner  does 
he  begin  to  eat  than  this  is  noticed,  and  it  is  all  out  of  pro- 
portion to  the  amount  of  food  taken.  There  is  also, 
usually,  some  diarrhea,  and  "wormy  discharges,"  which  are 
largely  of  mucus,  rusty  in  color,  as  though,  mixed  with 
powdered  brick-dust.  These  symptoms  may  be  the  only 
noticeable  ones,  or  there  may  be  present  others  indicative 
of  indigestion.  Vomiting  is  not  unusual,  and  although  the 
appetite  is  generally  voracious,  the  animal  is  almost  always 
thin  in  flesh.  In  puppies  over  three  or  four  months  old,  if 
infested  by  worms,  the  nose  would  very  likely  be  hot  and 
dry,  the  breath  offensive,  and  there  might  be  a  cough  as  a 
direct  consequence.  A  rough,  dry,  harsh  coat  is  also  a  sign 
of  worms;  and  the  sleep  of  an  older  puppy  harboring  them 
is  usually  dreamy  and  disturbed,  as  evinced  by  nervous 
twitchings  and  occasional  moaning  or  barking.  Worms  in 
puppies  but  two  or  three  weeks  old  excite  colicky  pains, 
which  cause  the  little  ones  to  groan  constantly  and  with 
almost  every  breath.  When  an  attack  comes  on  they  are 
soon  powerless  to  move  the  body,  and  for  hours  lie  numb 
and  cold,  their  piteous  groaning  never  ceasing  until  just 
before  they  die.  Occasionally  by  prompt  treatment  one  is 
saved  from  this  condition,  but  such  good  luck  is  rare 
indeed. 

Besides  the  symptoms  already  described,  which  are  occa- 
sioned by  worms  in  older  puppies,  there  are  many  others, 
and,  so  varied  are  they,  the  average  dog-owner  feels  justi- 
fied, and  rightly  so,  in  giving  worm-medicine  in  all  in- 
stances where  his  pet  is  taken  ill  and  he  can  not  make  out 
the  cause  of  the  trouble.  This  speculative  treatment  is 
often  successful,  and  in  no  case  is  it  likely  to  do  harm  if 
the  proper  medicine  is  used. 

There  can  be  no  doubt  but  nursing  puppies  become 
infested  by  worms  in  this  way:  The  dam  has  about  her  the 
eggs  from  which  the  worms  are  propagated,  in  her  hair, 
etc.  They  are  taken  up  by  the  puppies  while  nursing,  and 
enter  the  stomach  with  the  milk.  There  they  meet  the 


688  THE   AMERICAN    BOOK    OF   THE   DOG. 

conditions  favorable  for  their  development.  Just  what 
conditions  are  required  for  that  are  not  known,  but  there 
is  reason  to  believe  that  mucus  is  specially  essential. 
The  inside  of  the  intestines  of  young  puppies  is  thickly 
coated  with  mucus,  and  owing  to  the  character  of  the  food 
which  they  live  on  during  the  first  five  or  six  weeks  of  life, 
this  coating  is  but  little  affected  and  much  of  it  remains, 
or  at  least  there  is  always  what  appears  to  be  an  excess. 
When  the  puppies  begin  to  take  solid  food,  in  its  passage 
through  the  intestinal  canal  it  carries  mucus  with  it,  and 
less  is  left  within.  It  is  then  that  the  puppies  begin  to 
free  themselves  of  their  pests.  This  fact  is  generally  recog- 
nized and  taken  advantage  of.  Breeders,  as  a  measure 
against  worms,  change  the  diet  from  liquid  to  solid  as  soon 
as  the  latter  can  be  borne. 

Those  who  have  successfully  treated  puppies  for  worms 
have  doubtless  been  surprised  at  the  large  number  expelled. 
They  multiply  with  marvelous  rapidity.  Eschright  esti- 
mates, in  the  body  of  the  female  lumbricoid  found  in  the 
intestines  of  man,  the  number  of  eggs  to  be  64,000,000. 
These  eggs  after  being  discharged  retain  their  vitality  for 
many  months,  and  if  they  are  so  deposited  that  they  can  be 
taken  up  either  in  the  food  or  drinking-water,  worms 
are  propagated  from  them  in  the  intestinal  canal  of  the 
victim. 

Sour  milk  is  believed  to  be  a  preventative  for  worms, 
and  many  breeders  feed  it  to  their  puppies  at  least  once  a 
day.  Charcoal  is  considered  to  possess  vermifuge  proper- 
ties, and  is  also  given.  Probably  both  have  a  salutary 
action,  but  it  can  not  be  a  powerful  one.  For  puppies  from 
but  three  to  five  weeks  old  the  safest  remedy  for  worms  is 
the  fluid  extract  of  pink-root  and  senna.  Five  drops  may 
be  given  once  a  day,  for  three  or  four  days,  on  an  empty 
stomach.  At  the  end  of  that  time  a  tea-spoonful  of  castor- 
oil  should  be  administered,  to  clear  out  the  intestinal  canal. 
For  worms  in  puppies  three  months  old  and  upward,  and 
matured  dogs,  the  best  remedy  is  areca-nut,  or  betel-nut, 
as  it  is  called.  In  purchasing  this,  choose  the  dark-colored 


SOME   CANINE   DISEASES   AND   THEIR   REMEDIES. 

imts,  and  grate  them  on  a  nntmeg  grater.  The  dose  is  from 
a  tea-spoonfnl  to  a  table-spoonful,  according  to  the  size  of 
the.  animal.  If  the  patient  is  a  puppy,  he  should  be  fed 
milk  only  for  supper  the  night  before  taking  the  medicine, 
which  should  be  given  the  next  morning  on  an  empty 
stomach,  and  followed  two  hours  afterward  with  a  gener- 
ous dose  of  castor-oil.  It  is  easier  to  administer  the  areca- 
nut  if  it  is  mixed  with  just  enough  lard,  butter,  or  molasses 
to  have  it  hold  together  in  pill  form.  To  give  it,  grasp  the 
muzzle  of  the  dog  with  the  left  hand,  the  thumb  and  fore- 
finger on  either  side,  pressing  in  the  upper  lip  so  as  to  cover 
the  teeth  and  prevent  biting.  The  mouth  being  opened  and 
head  up,  carry  the  pill  back  into  the  throat  as  far  as  possi- 
ble, and  leaving  it  on  the  roots  of  the  tongue,  close  the  jaws 
and  keep  them  together  until  the  dog  swallows.  If  he  does 
not  do  this  at  once,  pinch  his  nostrils  as  you  would  a 
baby's;  shutting  off  the  breath  will  be  successful. 

Old  dogs  frequently  have  tape- worms,  of  which  there  are 
several  varieties.  Probably  dogs  which  are  fed  largely  on 
raw  meat  are  the  most  common  victims.  In  brief,  the  way 
in  which  they  become  infested  is  this:  Every  tape- worm 
generates  eggs  which  contain  the  germ  from  which  other 
tape-worms  are  developed.  Now,  these  are  thrown  out  of 
the  body.  If  they  are  ever  taken  up  again,  and  enter  the 
stomach  of  a  suitable  animal,  their  envelopes  are  softened 
and  ruptured  and  the  germs  or  embryos  are  set  free.  In 
some  way  or  other  these  leave  the  intestinal  canal  and  make 
their  way  to  different  parts  of  the  body,  meeting  conditions 
favorable  to  their  development.  If  the  flesh  in  which 
they  are  fixed  is  eaten  by  another  animal,  they  will  when 
they  reach  his  intestinal  canal  fasten  themselves  to  the 
mucous  membrane,  and  develop  into  tape- worms. 

This  method  of  transition  is  rather  intricate,  but  can  be 
made  clearer  by  the  following  illustration:  The  egg  from  a 
tape -worm  of  a  dog  is  so  deposited  that  in  time  it  is  taken 
up  by  a  sheep;  in  the  body  of  this  it  finds  the  conditions 
necessary  for  its  development  and  growth,  and  becomes 
what  is  known  as  the  ccenurus  cerebralis,  a  parasite  found 

44 


690  THE   AMEEICAN   BOOK    OF   THE   DOG. 

in  the  sheep's  brain.  Let  this  be  eaten  by  a  dog,  and 
in  his  intestines  it  will  become  a  tape-worm. 

If  one  dog  in  a  kennel  has  a  tape- worm  he  may  infect  all 
his  mates,  arid  he  may  even  keep  continually  infecting  him- 
self in  this  way:  The  eggs  from  him  are  deposited  about, 
and  he  takes  them  up  on  the  hairs  of  his  coat.  If  he  is 
unfortunate  enough  to  have  lice — which  are  quite  common 
among  dogs — these  eggs  are  swallowed  by  them.  Within 
the  bodies  of  the  lice  the  eggs  meet  with  conditions  which 
favor  the  rupture  of  their  envelopes,  and  the  embryos  escape 
and  another  transformation  takes  place.  In  biting  the 
parts  irritated  by  them  the  lice  are  often  swallowed  by  the 
dog,  and  thus  the  germ  enters  and  is  developed  into  a 
perfect  tape-worm  in  the  intestinal  canal  which  it  left  as 
an  egg  but  a  few  weeks  previous.  The  same  infested  lice 
being  shaken  from  his  coat  into  the  drinking-water,  or  the 
food,  may  be  introduced  into  other  dogs  kenneled  with  him, 
and  they  in  turn  may  become  infested. 

A  generously  fed  dog,  which  seems  strong,  active,  and 
healthy  and  yet  keeps  thin,  might  well  be  suspected  of  hav- 
ing a  tape-worm,  especially  if  he  has  a  ravenous  appetite. 
Whether  he  has  worms  or  not  ought  to  be  easy  to  determine. 
When  the  owner  is  in  doubt,  he  should  give  him  worm -medi- 
cine to  settle  the  question.  The  form  which  he  is  most 
likely  to  harbor  is  of  a  delicate  character,  much  of  it  being 
threadlike.  It  is  from  ten  to  twenty  inches  in  length.  The 
largest  tape- worm  found  in  the  dog  may  reach  ten  feet  in 
length,  and  the  germ  from  which  it  is  propagated  is  de- 
rived from  the  sheep.  Another  form  is  furnished  by  the 
hare  and  rabbit;  this  worm  is  from  two  to  three  feet  in 
length. 

A  safe  agent,  and  one  quite  effectual  in  the  treatment  of 
tape- worm,  is  the  areca-nut;  and  a  table-spoonful  at  least 
should  be  given  a  dog  of  ordinary  size.  He  should  fast 
one  day  before  taking  it.  On  the  night  of  that  day  he 
should  be  given  a  dose  of  castor-oil,  to  clear  out  the  intes- 
tinal canal  and  leave  the  worm  free  to  be  acted  upon  by 
the  medicine,  which  should  be  administered  the  following 


SOME   CANINE   DISEASES   AND   THEIR   REMEDIES.        691 

morning;  two  hours  later  another  dose  of  castor-oil  should 
be  given  if  it  appears  to  be  needed. 

Quite  recently  cocoanut  as  a  remedy  for  tape-worm  in 
man  has  been  given  some  prominence.  In  most  of  the 
cases  in  which  it  has  been  tried  it  has  acted  exceedingly 
well.  No  reason  appears  why  it  should  not  prove  as  effect- 
ual in  the  treatment  of  the  same  trouble  in  dogs.  The  way 
of  giving  the  nut  which  suggests  itself  as  the  best  is,  to 
crush  its  "meat"  in  an  iron  mortar  such  as  druggists  have. 
It  can  then  be  administered  to  the  dog  with  a  spoon,  and 
the  milk  be  poured  into  him  from  a  bottle. 

Another  bitter  enemy  to  the  tape-worm  is  infusion  of 
pomegranate-root.  This,  like  all  other  vermifuges,  should 
be  given  after  fasting  for  twenty- four  hours.  The  dose  for 
dogs  of  the  largest  breeds  is  three  ounces — six  table-spoon- 
fuls. It  is  best  to  commence  the  treatment  by  giving  cas- 
tor-oil. Two  hours  afterward  the  dose  of  the  infusion 
stated  should  be  given,  and  repeated  every  two  or  three 
hours  until  four  doses  have  been  taken;  then  the  oil  should 
be  repeated. 

These  several  measures  have  been  described  for  the  rea- 
son that  sometimes  a  tape- worm  proves  obstinate,  and  one 
remedy  after  another  must  be  tried  before  its  resistance  can 
be  overcome.  When  an  unsuccessful  effort  has  been  made 
to  dislodge  the  parasite,  it  will  be  well  to  repeat  it  in  about 
two  weeks. 

A  word  further  regarding  the  prevention  of  worms  in 
young  puppies.  At  as  early  an  age  as  possible  they  should 
be  given  solid  food,  or  food  in  a  form  approaching  it. 
Toasted  bread  crushed  up  in  broths,  or  finely  powdered 
dog-biscuits  in  the  same,  furnish  means  of  clearing  out  the 
intestinal  canal,  and  of  preventing,  in  a  great  measure, 
worms  from  attaching  themselves  to  its  walls.  The  dietetic 
remedy  is  by  far  the  most  effectual  and  the  safest. 

VERMIN. 

Dogs  are  scarcely  ever  entirely  free  from  fleas.  There 
are  two  kinds  of  these  pests,  the  common  flea  and  the  sand- 


692  THE   AMERICAN   BOOK    OF   THE   DOG. 

flea.  The  former  bites,  producing  an  eruption  much  like 
that  caused  on  man  by  mosquitoes,  while  the  latter  bores 
into  the  skin,  exciting  quite  extensive  inflammation.  The 
sand-fleas,  as  the  name  implies,  are  common  in  sandy  dis- 
tricts, and  are  very  hard  to  kill.  Some  persons  suffer  from 
them  almost  as  much  as  do  the  dogs,  they  producing  on 
them  urticaria,  a  disease  commonly  known  as  nettle-rash 
and  hives. 

Kennels  infested  with  fleas,  if  they  are  situated  in  the 
sand,  should  be  moved  to  a  foundation  of  black  earth,  or, 
if  this  is  impossible,  earth  should  be  drawn  and  the  floors 
and  the  surrounding  ground  be  covered  with  it.  After- 
ward the  kennels  and  the  dogs  should  be  treated  to  kill  the 
pests  if  possible. 

New  remedies  for  fleas  are  constantly  being  recom- 
mended, but  without  doubt  the  surest  one  is  the  Dalmatian 
insect  powder.  Certainly,  on  the  score  of  cleanliness  and 
the  ease  with  which  it  can  be  used,  there  is  nothing  better 
for  the  purpose.  If  blown  into  all  the  cracks  and  plenti- 
fully thrown  over  the  floor  of  the  kennel,  for  a  time,  at 
least,  the  nuisance  will  be  abated. 

To  treat  a  dog  for  fleas,  lay  him  on  several  newspapers, 
dust  the  powder  over  him  freely,  and  then  work  it  with  the 
hand  well  in  among  the  hairs.  The  newspapers  are  an  eco- 
nomical measure.  If  this  treatment  is  applied  properly,  it 
means  death  to  the  troublesome  insects.  The  powder  rec- 
ommended, when  purchased  in  small  quantities,  is  quite 
expensive;  much  can  be  saved  by  buying  it  by  the  pound. 

Quite  a  sure  means  of  ridding  a  dog  of  fleas  is  washing 
with  strong  carbolic  soap-suds.  This  can,  if  due  cau- 
tion is  exercised,  be  safely  done  in  summer,  but  in  winter 
washing  is  rather  hazardous.  Of  carbolic  soaps  there  are 
at  least  two  kinds — the  strong  and  the  mild.  The  latter  is 
for  toilet  purposes,  while  the  iormer  is  specially  prepared 
for  use  on  animals,  and  is  really  the  only  one  possessing 
any  actual  virtue  as  a  destroyer  of  parasites.  In  using  car- 
bolic acid  in  any  form,  one  must  never  forget  its  poisonous 
nature.  When  washing  a  dog  with  soap  containing  it,  let 


SOME   CANINE   DISEASES  AND   THEIK  KEMEDIES.        693 

it  be  done  quickly  and  he  be  well  rinsed  off  without  a  mo- 
ment's unnecessary  delay. 

Dogs  often  harbor  lice,  and  breeders  find  no  little 
trouble  in  keeping  them  from  puppies.  On  the  latter  they 
give  rise  to  a  form  of  inflammation  of  the  skin  which  leads 
to  the  accumulation  of  many  small,  thin  scales.  A  dog 
may  be  washed  with  carbolic  soap,  which  will  kill  the  lice, 
but  it  would  scarcely  be  safe  to  use  that  on  very  young 
puppies  with  sufficient  freedom  to  accomplish  the  purpose. 
It  is  best,  for  two  or  three  days,  to  anoint  them  every  day 
with  sulphur  and  lard — quite  a  generous  quantity — and 
then  to  wash  them,  using  the  ordinary  yellow  soap  of  the 
kitchen.  The  lard  softens  the  scales  so  that  they  are  easily 
detached  from  the  skin,  and  with  the  sulphur  heals  the 
eruption.  Sulphur  is  an  enemy,  although  not  a  bitter  one, 
to  lice.  If  this  treatment  does  not  prove  effectual,  then 
the  infested  puppy  must  be  washed  every  three  or  four 
days  in  strong  carbolic  soap-suds.  There  will  be  but  little 
danger  in  so  doing  if  it  is  done  quickly. 

Kerosene  or  crude  petroleum  will  kill  both  lice  and  fleas, 
but  these  remedies  can  not  take  precedence  over  those 
already  advised,  and  besides  they  are  exceedingly  unpleas- 
ant to  use. 

The  importance  of  cleanliness  in  a  dog  and  his  belong- 
ings is  of  infinite  importance.  It  is  always  well  to  occa- 
sionally burn  sulphur  in  his  kennel  during  winter,  when 
whitewashing  is  out  of  the  question.  This  will  destroy  all 
the  vermin  in  it.  As  an  extra  precaution  against  the  pests, 
it  is  always  well  to  scatter  about  freely  on  the  floor  some  dis- 
infectant in  a  powdered  form.  There  are  many  such,  which 
are  made  up  of  carbolic  acid  and  lime.  On  the  powder  put 
sawdust,  and  on  that  lay  plenty  of  clean  straw,  which 
should  be  changed  once  or  twice  a  week. 

THE   CAKE   AND   FEEDING    OF    PUPPIES. 

Dogs  in  their  wild  state  were  carnivora,  or  flesh-eaters. 
In  domestication  they  have  met  with  new  conditions,  which 
have  changed  somewhat  their  natures.  While  meat  is  still 


694  THE   AMERICAN   BOOK  OF   THE   DOG. 

an  absolute  essential  to  their  diet,  they  do  well  if  vegetable 
food  is  added  in  a  limited  quantity.  Here  it  is  well  to  say 
that  there  is  a  popular  idea  that  by  feeding  dogs  meat  they 
are  made  savage.  The  great  majority  of  dog-owners  and 
breeders  say  that  this  is  not  true,  and  yet  there  is  a  grain 
of  truth  in  it.  A  diet  largely  made  up  of  meat  tends  to 
develop  the  animal  in  man,  and  bring  out  his  coarser  quali- 
ties of  mind.  It  really  makes  him  peevish  and  exacting,  if 
not  morose.  So,  too,  with  the  dog;  it  really  does  tend  to 
make  him  savage,  but  not  in  the  degree  people  generally 
suppose,  nor  are  its  effects  nearly  as  marked  as  on  man. 
If  a  dog  is'  naturally  ferocious,  his  owner  is  quite  sure  to 
keep  him  much  of  the  time  chained  up,  and  as  a  direct 
consequence  of  the  restraint  he  is  made  much  worse.  Feed 
largely  on  meat  a  dog  which  is  humanely  treated  and 
allowed  much  liberty,  and  such  a  diet  will  never  injure  his 
^/disposition,  even  in  the  slightest  degree. 

A  puppy  should  be  fed  four  times  a  day  until  he  is  four 
months  old.  From  that  period  until  the  seventh  month, 
three  meals  a  day  will  be  sufficient;  then,  until  a  year  old, 
he  need  be  given  food  only  morning  and  night.  The  last 
meal  of  the  day  should  be  the  heaviest.  While  very  young, 
milk  should  be  his  principal  food.  Here  is  a  diet-table  for 
a  puppy  of  the  large  breed  eight  weeks  old :  First  meal, 
7  A.  M.,  milk,  warmed.  Put  into  it  one-half  a  dog-biscuit 
which  has  been  grated  fine  on  a  nutmeg  grater;  this  should 
be  scalded  before  it  is  added  to  the  milk,  of  which  there 
should  be  about  a  cupful.  Second  meal,  11  A.  M.,  milk 
alone.  Third  meal,  4  p.  M.,  well-cooked  oatmeal  and  milk. 
Fourth  and  last  meal  of  the  day,  from  9  to  9.30  P.  M.,  beef- 
tea  and  bread.  To  prepare  this,  put  the  meat,  cut  fine,  into 
a  tin  can,  or  vessel  shaped  like  one.  After  water  in  suffi- 
cient quantity — about  "a  pint  to  the  pound" — has  been 
added,  cover  and  put  the  can  into  a  pan  of  water,  and  set  it 
away  in  a  hot  oven,  there  to  cook  slowly.  Cut  two  or  three 
slices  of  stale  white  bread,  and  keep  them  in  the  oven  until 
brown.  When  the  time  of  feeding  comes,  pour  the  beef 
onto  the  bread  and  mash  it  up  well.  After  doing  this,  add 


SOME   CANINE   DISEASES   AND   THEIR   REMEDIES.        695 

the  meat,  which  has  been  crushed  into  a  paste  in  a  mortar. 
One  cupful  and  a  half  of  this  mixture  would  be  a  hearty 
meal  for  a  puppy  of  the  very  largest  breed  when  he  is 
eight  weeks  old. 

It  is  dangerous  to  overfeed  a  puppy,  but  it  will  be  easy 
to  estimate  the  proper  quantity  of  food.  On  the  first  sign 
of  abdominal  distention  the  feeding  should  stop.  Com- 
mencing with  this  diet,  it  should  be  slightly  changed  from 
time  to  time,  but  all  changes  should  be  gradual.  Variety 
is  essential  to  a  growing  puppy.  Instead  of  oatmeal, 
Indian  meal  may  be  given  occasionally,  and  mashed  potatoes 
and  other  easily  digestible  Vegetables  may  be  added  to  the 
diet.  After  the  third  month,  scraped  raw  beef  may  be 
allowed  each  day.  The  quantity  at  first  should  not  be  over 
a  dessert-spoonful.  To  every  puppy  after  the  age  stated, 
or  matured  dog,  should  be  given  meat,  either  raw  or  cooked, 
every  day.  If  this  rule  is  not  followed,  he  is  sure  to  suffer 
in  health.  If  fed  largely  on  starchy  foods — oatmeal, 
Indian  meal,  puddings,  and  the  like — he  might  for  a  time 
appear  to  remain  in  good  condition,  and  yet  he  would  not 
be  as  strong  and  as  healthy  as  if  he  were  properly  fed. 


SPANIEL  TRAINING. 


BY  F.  H.  F.  MERCER  ("D.  BOULTON  HERROLD"). 

Author  of  "The  Spaniel  and  its  Training." 


WING  to  the  space  at  my  command  being  limited, 
the  interesting  subject  of  Spaniel  training  can  not 
be  gone  into,  here,  in  an  exhaustive  manner.  How- 
ever, the  following  directions  are  amply  sufficient  to  show 
an  ordinarily  intelligent  man  the  course  to  pursue  in  train- 
ing a  Spaniel  for  work  afield. 

To  thoroughly  train  a  Spaniel  for  the  field  it  is  well  to 
commence  when  the  puppy  is  about  three  months  old. 
The  first  lesson  to  be  taught  should  be  that  of  obedience. 
Give  your  pupil  to  understand  that  you  must  and  will  be 
obeyed.  Christen  the  puppy,  and  always  call  him  by  the 
same  name.  He  must  learn  that  when  you  call  he  is  to 
come.  If  he  refuses,  go  to  him,  and  taking  him  by  the 
nape  of  the  neck,  drag  him  to  where  you  stood  when  the 
order  was  given,  saying,  "Come  here,  -  -  (his  name),  come 
here!"  and  on  returning  to  your  standing-place,  unloose  and 
make  much  of  him,  repeating  his  name  with  each  endear- 
ment Taking  a  pair  of  old  and  soft  yarn  socks,  roll  them 
into  a  ball  and  fasten  so  that  they  can  not  come  apart; 
then,  calling  the  puppy,  push  the  ball  into  his  face  until  he 
attempts  to  seize  it,  and  when  his  attention  is  centered  on 
the  new  plaything,  throw  it  about  dne  foot  away,  saying, 

"Go  fetch, ,"  motioning  in  the  required  direction  at 

the  same  time  with  the  hand.  If  he  takes  it  in  his  mouth, 
call  him  to  you,  and  should  he  bring  it,  say,  "Dead  bird!  " 
or  "Dead!  "  opening  his  mouth  at  the  same  time  and  gen- 
tly removing  the  ball.  The  greatest  care  should  be  taken 
not  to  pull  the  ball  away,  as  he  would  assuredly  pull  too, 
thereby  laying  the  seed  of  future  trouble  in  the  shape  of 
dismembered,  perhaps  eaten,  birds  and  game. 

(697) 


THE   AMERICAN    BOOK    OF   THE   DOG. 

Should  he  refuse  to  fetch,  but  run  away  and  gnaw  at  the 
ball,  go  to  him,  and  keeping  it  in  his  mouth,  draw  him 
after  you  to  where  you  stood  when  the  ball  was  thrown; 
then  say  "Dead,"  and  proceed  as  before. 

In  the  event  of  his  refusing  to  pick  up  the  ball,  take 
him  behind  the  shoulders,  and  dragging  him  to  where  it 
lies,  place  it  in  his  mouth  and  proceed  as  before  directed. 
Care  should  be  taken  to  prevent  his  mauling  and  biting  at 
the  ball,  and  on  his  attempting  to  do  so,  order  him  sharply 
to  "  Stop  that!"  slapping  him  smartly  at  the  same  time. 
These  lessons  should  be  persisted  in  until  they  are  thor- 
oughly understood  by  the  puppy. 

The  ball  should  now  be  hidden,  without  the  pupil's 
knowledge,  and  he  should  then  be  ordered  to  "  Seek  dead," 
at  the  same  time  being  shown  the  direction  in  which  to 
quest  by  a  wave  of  the  hand.  If  he  fails  to  find,  show  him 
where  it  is  hidden  and  try  again.  Never  let  him  suffer  dis- 
appointment in  his  search,  and  always  make  him  carry  the 
ball  to  you  and  lay  it  at  your  feet.  (He  will  by  this  time 
have  learned  to  deliver  without  the  command  to  do  so.) 

Hide  the  ball  in  more  and  more  unlikely  places  as  he 
progresses,  until  he  will  at  last  find  it  no  matter  where 
hidden.  He  should  not  on  any  account  be  permitted  to 
carry  sticks,  stones,  or  other  hard  substances,  as  such  prac- 
tices would  inevitably  make  him  hard  in  the  mouth.  Prac- 
tice the  retrieving  sometimes  in  the  dark,  as  this  will  teach 
him  to.  depend  on  scent  rather  than  sight. 

To  teach  a  puppy  to  "heel,"  call  sharply  when  he  is 
walking  with  you,  "Heel,  -  — !"  and  at  the  same  time 
force  him  behind  you.  Should  he  attempt  to  break  away, 
tap  him  smartly  with  a  light  stick  or  whip  and  again  put 
him  behind  you,  repeating  the  command  while  doing  so. 
This  lesson  must  be  thoroughly  inculcated,  as  it  is  of  the 
greatest  importance  that  a  dog  should  come  well  to  heel, 
and  stay  there  until  ordered  to  "Hie  on."  This  latter  is 
the  easiest  by  far  of  all  the  lessons  to  impart,  as  a  dog  is 
always  anxious  to  avail  himself  of  the  opportunity  to 
indulge  in  a  scamper. 


SPANIEL  TRAINING. 

When  the  pnppy  is  running  "at  heel,"  say  sharply, 
" Hie  on!  "  or  "Run  along! "  waving  the  right  or  left  hand 
forward  at  the  same  time  and  run  two  or  three  steps  to 
start  him  off. 

On  a  warm  day,  when  the  temperature  of  the  water  is 
high,  take  your  pupil  to  a  river  bank  or  pond,  where  the 
beach  shelves  gradually  under  the  water.  You  will  ere  this 
have  sewn  some  thin  shavings  of  cork  into  the  sock-ball. 
Fling  this  to  the  water's  edge  and  order  the  puppy  to 
"  Fetch."  Next  throw  it  in  so  far  as  to  oblige  him  to  wet 
his  feet  in  reaching  it,  and  so  on,  farther  and  farther,  until 
he  is  at  last  obliged  to  swim. 

Never  go  away  leaving  the  ball  in  the  water;  but  if  he 
refuses  to  fetch,  get  it  for  Mm,  and  try  again,  beginning 
the  lesson  anew.  Whatever  determination  you  may  dis- 
play in  these  early  lessons  will  be  infused  in  him. 

We  will  now  suppose  that  our  pupil  has  thoroughly 
learned  the  tasks  hereinbefore  enumerated,  and  that  the 
time  has  come  when  he  may  be  taken  afield.  On  arriving 
at  covert,  "hie "  him  in,  and  his  instinct  then  tells  him  to 
quest  for  game.  At  first  let  him  range  at  will,  so  that  he 
will  thoroughly  enter  into  the  fun;  but  after  a  time,  should 
he  go  more  than  an  easy  gunshot  away,  conceal  yourself 
and  oblige  him  to  find  you  without  any  assistance.  This  will 
frighten  him,  and  the  chances  are  he  will  range  closer  in 
future. 

After  a  few  days  of  this  work,  when  he  goes  too  far  away 
call  to  him,  "Close,  -  — ,  close!  "  making  him  come  nearer 
to  you.  Should  he  persist  in  ranging  too  fax,  call  him  in 
and  thrash  him,  saying  the  while,  "Close,  -  — ,  close!" 

Should  he  attempt  to  chase  a  flushed  bird,  call  "  Ware 
chase, !"  and  thrash  him  soundly,  repeating  the  com- 
mand while  doing  so.  If  a  hare  is  sprung  and  the  puppy 
attempts  to  chase  it,  shout  "  Ware  fur,  -  — !  "and  chastise 
him.  He  must  be  broken  of  this  evil  habit  at  all  hazards. 

Time  will  accomplish  the  rest.  It  will  teach  him  to 
work  in  the  direction  indicated  by  a  wave  of  the  hand  or  a 
nod  of  the  head,  to  range  never  too  far  from  the  gun,  and 


700  THE   AMERICAN   BOOK   OF  THE   DOG. 

when  "roading"  a  bird  to  wait  on  his  master.  An  obsti- 
nate case  of  wide  ranging  can  almost  certainly  be  overcome 
by  means  of  a  choke-collar  and  check-cord. 

Some  remarks  in  relation  to  the  training  of  ladies'  pet- 
dogs,  of  whatever  breed,  may  not  be  out  of  place  in  this 
connection. 

Even  though  a  lady  may  not  be  desirous  of  giving  her 
pet  a  finished  education,  there  is  so  much  satisfaction  to  be 
had  out  of  the  ownership  of  an  obedient,  cleanly  dog,  who 
will  "show  off"  a  few  simple  tricks  before  a  group  of 
admiring  friends,  that  I  fancy  some  directions  on  the  sub- 
ject will  be  acceptable. 

A  puppy  should  not  be  punished  for  misdemeanors  until 
he  is  at  least  three  months  old.  Before  that  he  can  not 
understand  what  he  has  done  that  is  wrong.  You  would 
not  punish  a  year-old  child.  Why  then  a  month-old 
puppy? 

It  is  a  common  remark:  "The  children  can  do  anything 
with  Jack  and  he  never  minds."  That  is  all  very  well,  but 
the  poor  dog  does  mind  being  lugged  around  by  the  ears 
or  tail,  punched,  kicked,  and  rolled  over,  and  it  is  only 
common  humanity  to  check  his  tormentors  and  make  their 
play  less  cruel. 

When  the  puppy  has  made  a  mess,  he  should  be  taken  to 
the  place  and  his  nose  rubbed  in  it.  He  should  be  scolded 
the  while  and  sharply  slapped.  Never  punish  him  if  suf- 
ficient time  has  elapsed  since  his  indiscretion  to  admit  of 
the  possibility  of  his  having  forgotten  his  fault,  as  he  will 
not  know  what  he  is  being  punished  for,  and  no  good  will 
be  achieved.  If  this  practice  is  adhered  to  in  every  case,  he 
will  soon  learn  to  be  cleanly,  always  provided  he  is  allowed 
to  run  outside  every  now  and  then. 

A  lady's  pet  is  notoriously  a  disobedient  dog.  This  is 
because,  from  the  kindness  of  their  hearts,  the  mistresses 
scruple  to  use  the  rod.  "Spare  the  rod  and  spoil  the  dog" 
is  a  good  motto;  not,  mind  you,  that  I  advocate  incessant 
whippings,  but  where  punishment  is  needed,  a  thorough 


SPANIEL   TRAINING.  701 

chastisement  should  be  given,  not  a  few  pats  and  an  "Oh! 
you  naughty  fellow,  how  could  you! '"  I  do  not  agree  with 
the  cynic  who  wrote: 

A  woman,  a  Spaniel,  a  walnut-tree, 

The  more  you  beat  them,  the  better  they  be; 

But  I  know  that  there  are  times  when  the  only  proper 
remedy  for  a  dog  is  a  sound  thrashing. 

In  dog- training,  what  one  has  to  do  is,  gain  a  footing  in 
the  animal's  mind  by  making  him  understand  what  is 
wanted,  and  teach  him  the  meaning  of  words  and  signs. 
The  rest  is  easy. 

To  teach  a  dog  to  jump  through  a  hoop:  Take  a  hoop 
of  proper  size,  call  your  pupil  to  you,  and  holding  the  hoop 
over  his  head,  rap  his  legs  smartly  with  it  on  the  knees  and 
say,  "Jump,  sir,  jump!  "  Hold  him  firmly  and  force  him 
against  the  hoop,  saying  all  the  time,  "Jump!  jump!" 
Then  force  him  through  it,  praise  and  pet  him,  giving  him 
some  dainty  as  a  reward. 

Try  it  again,  and  if  he  will  not  go  through,  force  him 
again,  and  proceed  as  before.  When  once  he  will  go 
through,  on  being  ordered,  all  will  be  well  and  you  can 
gradually  hold  the  hoop  higher  and  higher,  until  he  will 
spring  several  feet  in  the  air. 

An  important  thing  to  remember  is,  never  weary  your 
pupil,  and  only  teach  one  thing  at  a  time,  which  he  must 
have  learned  thoroughly  ere  you  take  up  something  new. 

To  teach  him  to  be  dead :  Force  him  to  the  ground 
where  he  has  been  standing,  saying,  "Dead,  sir,  dead!" 
and  hold  him  there  for  a  few  moments.  Then  spring  up 
yourself  and  cry,  "Alive  again!"  making  him  get  up, 
when  praise  and  pet  him.  Continue  this  until  he  will  fall 
down  on  receiving  the  command,  and  rise  also  at  the  word. 
Scold  him  if  he  moves  a  muscle  while  dead,  and  never  make 
him  lie  more  than  a  few  moments  at  the  outset. 

A  dog  can  be  taught  to  "  say  his  prayers"  in  precisely 
the  same  way,  except  that  you  make  him  assume  a  suitable 
posture,  with  his  nose  on  a  chair  or  hassock,  and  to  spring 
up  at  the  word  "  Amen." 


702  THE   AMERICAN   BOOK    OF   THE   DOG. 

About  as  good  a  way  as  any  to  teach  a  dog  to  stand  on 
his  hind  legs  is  to  put  some  stuff  of  which  he  is  fond  in  a 
spoon,  and  hold  it  at  such  a  height  that  by  standing  on  his 
hind  legs  he  can  lick  it  out.  While  doing  this,  say  all  the 
time,  " Stand,  sir,  stand!"  and  praise  and  pet  him  for  so 
doing.  In  this  way  he  will  become  accustomed  to  standing 
on  hind  legs  alone,  and  in  time  will  stand  and  walk  when 
ordered. 

To  teach  a  dog  to  sit  up,  it  is  best  to  place  him  in  posi- 
tion in  a  corner,  and  hold  him  there,  saying  the  while, 
"Sit  up,  sir,  sit  up!"  When  he  will  do  so  without  re- 
straint, reward  him.  In  a  little  while,  when  he  will  sit  in 
the  corner,  bring  him  out  and  make  him  sit  without  sup- 
port. 

"Trust  and  paid  for."  Hold  the  dainty  at  his  nose, 
keeping  his  mouth  shut,  at  the  same  time  saying,  ' '  Trust, 
sir,  trust."  Then  let  loose  his  mouth,  say  "Paid  for," 
and  let  him  eat  it. 

"Three  cheers!  "  If  you  hold  a  dainty  out  of  the  reach 
of  a  young  dog,  he  will  generally  bark  at  you;  therefore, 
when  he  does  this  say,  "Three  cheers — one,  two,  three," 
and  at  the  third  bark  give  him  the  coveted  morsel.  Speak 
distinctly,  and  never  give  it  him  until  he  has  barked  three 
times. 

Shaking  hands  is  taught  by  making  him  sit  before  you, 
and  taking  hold  of  his  right  paw,  lifting  it  and  saying, 
"Shake  hands."  Next  say  this  again,  but  instead  of 
taking  hold  of  the  leg,  tap  it  smartly  behind,  saying  the 
while,  "Shake  hands,  shake  hands." 


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